Nigeria, March 28 -- Alves, 41, was convicted in February 2024 of raping a 23-year-old woman at the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022.
The former footballer was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison but was released on bail in March 2024 after paying 1 million ($1.2 million).
The appeals court, consisting of judges Maria Angels Vivas, Roser Bach, Maria Jesus Manzano, and Manuel Alvarez, ruled unanimously in favor of Alves, concluding that the initial conviction contained "a series of gaps, inaccuracies, inconsistencies and contradictions regarding the facts, the legal assessment and their consequences."
"Alves is very happy. He is innocent, that is demonstrated. Justice has spoken," said his lawyer, Ines Guardiola, during an ...