Dani Alves granted €1m bail after rape conviction

Former Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been granted release on bail for €1 million upon appeal, a Barcelona court announced on Wednesday.

Alves was convicted of sexual assault last month and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, of which he had already served over a year.

His lawyer, Ines Guardiola, fought the ruling and, following a hearing on Tuesday, Alves has been released pending a final resolution in the appeal.

Alves’ release is also dependent on handing in both his Spanish and his Brazilian passport, remaining in Spain and agreeing to weekly court check-ins.

He also must adhere to a restraining order which prevents him from going within 1,000 metres of his victim, her home, her place of work or any other place she is known to frequent.

All parties involved — the defence, the victim’s legal team and the prosecution — have three days to appeal Wednesday’s ruling.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.