Dani Alves to be released after posting €1m bail in rape conviction

Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves is set to be released from prison after paying the required 1 million euros ($1.08 million) bail pending the outcome of his rape conviction appeal, it was confirmed on Monday court officials.

Alves was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison on February 22 after Catalonia's highest court found him guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. He was released on bail on Wednesday but remained in jail for the rest of the week after failing to do so. find the money on time.

Sources told ESPN last week that Alves was exploring different avenues to raise the million euros, including releasing some of his assets and demanding the money owed to him by the Spanish tax authority.

Spanish news agency EFE reported through judicial sources that Alves made the payment on Friday. On Monday, the court confirmed receipt of Alves' bail payment and said he was expected to be released in a few hours.

For Alves to be released, he must surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports, in addition to posting bail, and is prohibited from leaving the country. He still has a residence near Barcelona.

Alves also cannot come within 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) of the victim or attempt to communicate with her, and he must report to the courthouse every week.

The decision to grant Alves bail pending the outcome of his appeal sparked backlash, with the victim's lawyer Ester García calling it a “scandalous” decision.

“It’s justice for the rich,” she said.