Former Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves has been found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub, according to a court in Spain. The verdict has sentenced him to four and a half years in prison.
Alves, aged 40, who is renowned as one of the most decorated footballers in history, had denied the allegations of sexually assaulting the woman in the early hours of 31 December 2022.
While his lawyer had advocated for his acquittal, Alves retains the option to appeal against the verdict.
This story is developing, and further updates will be provided as more details emerge.