Ex-Barca star Alves has rape conviction overturned

A Spanish appeals court overturned on Friday former Brazil international footballer Dani Alves' rape conviction, citing insufficient evidence.

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Alves received a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence last year for raping a young woman in the VIP bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022.

The 40-year-old, who won the Champions League three times with Barcelona, was released from jail last March pending his appeal after he posted the one million-euro ($1.1million) bail set by the court.

The Barcelona-based appeals court said four judges ruled "unanimously acceded the player's appeal" and found "the evidence presented was insufficient evidence" to prove he was guilty.