FC Barcelona have republished Dani Alves’ legends profile on their website after he was convicted of rape.

Alves, 40, was found guilty of sexual assault in February and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

The Athletic reported that Barcelona removed a webpage about Alves in their “legendary players” section after his conviction, only to republish it days later.

Barcelona told Sky News it had no comment on the reports. As of writing, the webpage is still on the club’s website.

Alves was ruled to have raped a 23-year-old woman on New Year’s Eve in 2022 in the VIP private bathroom of an uptown nightclub in Barcelona called the Sutton Club.

State prosecutors were told by the victim that on the night of the assault, she danced with Alves and willingly entered the nightclub bathroom, but when she later wanted to leave, he would not let her.

Read more:
British troops exposed to ‘deadly poison’ feel ‘betrayed’
First out gay male footballer in Australia proposes to partner

Former Barcelona footballer Dani Alves sentenced to four and a half years in jail over sexual assault

Napkin used to sign 13-year-old Lionel Messi to go up for auction – with a starting price of £300,000

Barcelona wear Rolling Stones inspired kit – as Jagger and Wood spotted in stands at El Clasico

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

She said he then slapped her, insulted her and forced her to have sexual relations against her will.

Alves denied any wrongdoing during the trial, telling the court: “I am not that kind of man.”

The court also ordered Alves to pay 150,000 euros (£128,000) in compensation to the victim, banned him from approaching her home or place of work, and from communicating with her by any means for nine years.

Inés Guardiola, the former footballer’s lawyer, said: “I still believe in the innocence of Mr. Alves.

“I need to study the ruling, but I can tell you that of course we will appeal.”

Related posts:

Explosive eruption sends ash column six miles into the sky as volcano rocks Caribbean island Israel-Gaza conflict: What is happening and who is involved? North Korea fires ‘new ballistic missile’ from submarine Abramovich seen at Ukraine peace talks after allegations he was poisoned Norway mass shooting suspect ‘radicalised Islamist’ – as terror threat raised to highest level Hungary leader Viktor Orban’s adviser quits over ‘pure Nazi’ speech about migration No let-up in China’s zero-COVID stance as cases surge to highest since Shanghai lockdown Biden says he ‘strongly supports’ Windsor Framework at St Patrick’s Day meeting Ecuador party of slain presidential candidate picks replacement Kim Jong Un wipes away tears as he calls on North Korean women to have more babies More than 1,000 migrants reach Canary Islands in three days Starbucks partner ‘to cut thousands of jobs’ over Gaza-linked boycotts