Spanish court overturns footballer Dani Alves’ rape conviction on appeal

Brazilian football star Dani Alves, right, leaving a penitentiary centre in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, near Barcelona in March 2024 (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Footballer Dani Alves won his appeal against a sexual assault conviction as a Spanish court overturned the ruling on Friday.

Alves was found guilty in February 2024 of raping a woman in a nightclub in December 2022 and sentenced to four years and six months in prison.