hing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/hong-kong-news"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Entertainment","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/entertainment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"World News","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/world-news"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"name":"Comment","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/comment"}}]}]17:T663,A Spanish court sentenced former Brazil international Dani Alves to 4 1/2 years in prison for raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub.

Prosecutors had called for a nine-year prison sentence for the tree-time Champions League winner.

One of the world's most decorated footballers who played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, Alves, 40, went on trial this month on charges of raping a woman at the Sutton nightclub early on December 31, 2022.

His accuser, who testified behind a screen, said Alves forced her to have sex in a bathroom despite her begging him to let her go, causing her "anguish and terror," according to prosecutors.

A friend who was with her broke down in tears as she told the court how the victim was "crying uncontrollably" after leaving the bathroom, saying Alves had "really hurt" her.

Alves, in court throughout his three-day trial, testified his encounter with the woman was consensual and denied hitting her.

"I am not that type of man," he told the court.

His wife Joana Sanz, 31, told the court he appeared very drunk when he got back to their Barcelona home that night.

Alves initially denied knowing the woman in a TV interview but later acknowledged having sex with her, saying it was consensual.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Alves sent to jail for nightclub rape