Former FC Barcelona and PSG footballer Daniel Alves paid his bail to get out of prison

The Barcelona court accepted on Monday the release of the Brazilian, sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a rape committed in 2022, following the payment of his bail.

Footballer Daniel Alves has paid his bail and will be able to leave prison, the Barcelona court announced on Monday March 25. The former Barça and Paris Saint-Germain star was sentenced, on February 22, to four and a half years in prison and 150,000 euros in compensation to the victim, for a rape committed in a Barcelona nightclub. on the night of December 30 to 31, 2022. His bail was set at one million euros.

“We inform you that the deposit of Daniel Alves’ bail has been recorded in the accounts of the 21st section of the Barcelona Court”, announced the body in a press release. On Wednesday March 20, the court accepted the principle of release in exchange for payment of this bond, as well as the withdrawal of Daniel Alves’ passports and his ban on leaving Spanish territory.

Daniel Alves will appeal

The Brazilian’s lawyer announced, in the wake of his conviction, her client’s intention to appeal. On February 22, when the sentence was announced, the Barcelona court published a press release explaining: “the victim did not consent and there is evidence which, beyond the testimony of the complainant, allows the rape to be considered proven.”

The Barcelona prosecutor’s office described “a violent attitude” of the former footballer towards the victim, imposing fellatio and penetration without contraception after having slapped her. “The victim asked him several times (…) to let her go, saying she wanted to go, but the accused stopped her.”we read in the indictment.

Daniel Alves pleaded for release, focusing his defense strategy on his blood alcohol level (mitigating circumstance in Spain), but the Brazilian had delivered several sometimes contradictory versions: “in the images we can observe normal behavior regarding alcohol [pour quelqu’un qui se dit en état d’ébriété]. He is seen walking normally towards the VIP lounge. He was in complete control of what he was doing.”, according to the prosecutor. The prosecution had requested nine years in prison, while the plaintiff’s lawyer requested a sentence of twelve years in prison.