More stories

  • in

    Chelsea star Sam Kerr ‘called cop a stupid white b*****d in row over taxi fare after being sick in cab on night out’

    SUPERSTAR women’s footballer Sam Kerr called a policeman “a stupid white b*****d,” it has been claimed.The 30-year-old Aussie’s alleged racial insult came after cops were called to a dispute over a taxi fare.Chelsea player Sam Kerr has been caught in a racism row after allegedly abusing a police officerCredit: GettySam allegedly called the officer a ‘a stupid white b*****d’Credit: GettyKerr is said to have allegedly said the phrase after a night outCredit: GettySam appeared in court via video link and pleaded not guilty to the chargeCredit: InstagramAustralia women’s captain and Chelsea striker Kerr is said to have been sick in the cab after a night out.Kerr is then alleged to have unleashed a racist verbal volley when cops arrived to deal with the dispute in Twickenham, South West London, on January 30 last year.She has been charged with intentionally causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to the male PC under section 31(1)(b) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.If convicted, FIFA poster girl Kerr faces a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment.Read more on footballKerr, of Richmond, South West London, was summonsed via postal requisition to first appear at Wimbledon magistrates’ court on February 1.The case was committed to Kingston crown court where she appeared via videolink on Monday.She wore a white T-shirt and black  jacket and spoke only to confirm her name and plead not guilty to the charge.Judge Judith Elaine Coello ordered her to appear for a four-day trial at the court in February next year at which two police officers are expected to give evidence.Most read in FootballBefore that, a hearing is scheduled to take place on 26 April where it is expected the defence will try  to dismiss the case by claiming abuse of process.The judge said she understood that Kerr’s defence would be that she did not intend to cause alarm, harassment or distress to the police officer and that her behaviour was not racially motivated.It is understood the delay in charging Kerr stemmed from CPS lawyers trying to decide what offence to prosecute her for.Kerr, who became the first female footballer to appear on the front cover of the global FIFA 23 video game, has spoken out against racism in the past.She and the Matildas team linked arms and posed with an Aboriginal flag ahead of their match against New Zealand. in 2021.Kerr said at the time: “We’re very proud of it.“We spoke a lot about it as a team. We wanted to do something that was important to us and show unity within our group.”She is nicknamed the ‘Millionaire Matilda’ because of her lucrative career earnings and is the only female player to have won the golden boot in three different leagues and on three different continents.Kerr was selected to carry the Australian national flag at Prince Charles’ coronation at Westminster Abbey in May last year, cementing her iconic status Down Under.She signed for Chelsea in 2019 and has since scored 99 goals in 128 matches. READ MORE SUN STORIESKerr is currently sidelined with a long-term cruciate ligament knee injury sustained during a warm weather training camp in Morocco in January.She is engaged to be married to  West Ham United’s Kristie Mewis, 32.Sam Kerr has played for Chelsea since 2020Credit: GettySam Kerr and Kristie Mewis, who are engagedCredit: Instagram More

  • in

    Quincy Promes ‘detained at Dubai Airport’ after being sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling 1,370kg of cocaine

    DUTCH international Quincy Promes has reportedly been detained at Dubai Airport after being sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling cocaine.The Dutch footballer, 32, received jail time for helping to smuggle 1,363kg of the drug but has now allegedly landed himself in more hot water.Quincy Promes has reportedly been detained by Dubai cops at border controlCredit: GettyThe Dutch international was sentenced last month for his part in smuggling cocaineCredit: APBut the Spartak Moscow attacker had been avoiding jail by staying in Russia.However, cops in the Middle East are now holding him after he allegedly went to a Dubai training camp with his club.Various reports state that he was stopped at border control and was not allowed to travel with his team-mates back to Russia. Last month, Promes was handed a six-year jail term for his involvement in smuggling over 1,350 kilos of cocaine in January 2020.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThat was after the ex-Ajax winger was sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin back in June.De Telegraaf are claiming that the Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service was not aware of Promes’ detention when it initially happened.They state that it is suspected in Russia that Dubai police holding Promes is connected to his criminal conviction.However, they also add that it has not yet been confirmed by Middle East cops.Most read in FootballNow fresh reports in Russia have claimed that he had been kept in custody as he allegedly caused a traffic accident in Dubai and then fled the scene.The Dutch Public Prosecution Service has now submitted a request for Promes’ extradition, according to Russian journalist Ivan Karpov.Dutch football star Quincy Promes charged with attempted murder after ‘stabbing his cousin at family party’ Despite this arrest not being allegedly linked to his criminal convictions, this fresh report states that there is a chance that he could be extradited to his homeland.It says that the Public Prosecution Service has submitted a request for this to happen and that the Netherlands has had a limited extradition treaty with that state for a number of years.It was also said that prosecutors wanted to know “how such a successful footballer allowed himself to be drawn so deeply into crime” and had initially wanted a nine-year sentence for him.They claimed that Promes “normalises and almost romanticises the cocaine trade” while the court also heard that there was extra focus placed on him because of his public image as a role model.Last year, Promes was sentenced to 18 months behind bars for stabbing his cousin in the knee at a family party.The 50-capped Dutch star, who spent a season with Sevilla in Spain from 2018, appealed that sentencing but was ordered to pay compensation to his relative.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut Promes has continued playing football with Spartak – racking up eight goals and eight assists in 21 appearances before the winter break.Meanwhile, away from the pitch, Promes is a wannabe rapper and even freestyled with compatriot and close pal Memphis Depay.Quincy Promes’ football careerCLUBS

    FC Twente 2011-14 – 35 games (11 goals)
    Go Ahead Eagles 2012-13 (loan) – 41 (17)
    Spartak Moscow 2014-18 – 135 (66)
    Sevilla 2018-19 – 49 (3)
    Ajax 2019-21 – 53 (22)
    Spartak Moscow 2021-present – 99 (46)

    INTERNATIONAL

    Netherlands U19 2011 – 5 (0)
    Netherlands U20 2012-13 – 4 (1)
    Netherlands U21 2013-14 – 10 (7)
    Netherlands 2014-21 – 50 (7)

    TROPHIES

    Russian Premier League 2016–17
    Russian Cup 2021–22
    Russian Super Cup 2017
    Johan Cruyff Shield 2019
    Russian Premier League Golden Boot 2017-18 More

  • in

    Football club mascot accused of sex harassment after grabbing female reporter so tight she ‘felt sweat through costume’

    A FEMALE reporter has accused a smiling football mascot of sexual harassment after he grabbed her and pushed at her head.Gisele Kumpel was left disgusted by the man’s alleged actions after she claimed his sweat could even be felt through the costume when he unwillingly hugged her.
    Gisele Kumpel has accused a football mascot of sexual harassment during a game in BrazilCredit: X/@Gikumpel
    The Internacional mascot, known as Saci, has been suspended by the club over the claimsCredit: Instagram
    Kumpel, a female broadcaster who works on football matches in Brazil, labelled the man behind the costume an “idiot” and a “criminal” for the alleged acts.
    The claims say that Kumpel was forcefully hugged by the Internacional mascot, known as Saci, after a winning goal in the game.
    Kumpel then described having her head pushed as the embrace continued for far too long.
    The final allegation against the man was that he made a kissing gesture in her direction – an act that left her horrified and feeling singled out among her fellow male reporters.
    read more in football mascots
    I could hear the sound of the kiss and I felt his sweatGisele KumpelRadio Monumental broadcaster
    Kumpel spoke out against the mascot describing what she claims happened: “He came up to me and hugged me.
    “He stayed hugging me. Even with the mask on, he pushed my head and made a gesture of kissing me.
    “I could hear the sound of the kiss and I felt his sweat.
    “I was the only woman on that side of the field. There were other journalists, but he only did that to me.”
    Most read in Football
    She later took to social media to say: “Another day of women wanting to do their job in football and suffering for it with idiots who are criminals.”
    The shocking allegations were all given to the police who are now investigating them.
    Internatcional also handed over any pitch side footage they had from the game.
    The mascot has been suspended by the club but is yet to be formally named by them or local media.
    International said in a statement: “Regarding the registration of an incident related to the figure of the Saci mascot, Sport Club Internacional informs that it sent the images of its internal monitoring circuit to the Police Station in charge of investigating the episode.”
    “We trust that all the facts will be duly clarified with the authority police.
    “Therefore, and pending the prompt resolution of the case, the employee responsible for the mascot and the Club itself will remain at the disposal of the authorities.
    “Until the process is completed, the employee will be separated from the representation of Saci.”
    Kumpel showed pictures of herself at the local police station online after speaking to cops about the alleged harassment.
    She vowed to keep up with her complaints and make sure they are dealt with properly “so that no other woman goes through this”.
    All of the allegations come from Internacional’s clash with Gremio on February, 25.
    The wide-eyed mascot who wears Internacional’s classic red home strip and cap was celebrating a last gasp winner in the highly competitive contest that ended 3-2.
    Saci is permanently seen with a big grinning smile on his huge foam head.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    The shocking claims wrecked what should’ve been a night of celebrations in Porto Alegre as the team went top of the table in the Brasileirão Série A.
    Video later emerged of Kumpel behind the goal at the game with Saci standing nearby.
    Kumpel claimed she was hugged, pushed and forced to watch the mascot make kissing gestures at her during the gameCredit: @gisele_kumpel/CEN
    Kumpel took the allegations to the cops after the incident and says she will continue to pursue them for women across the worldCredit: X/@Gikumpel More

  • in

    Dani Alves statue wrapped in duct tape & bin bags as furious locals demand its removed after shamed star jailed for rape

    DANI Alves’ statue was wrapped in duct tape and bin bags as his hometown wants it removed following his rape conviction.The former Barcelona star was jailed for more than four years after being found guilty of raping a woman in a Spanish nightclub.
    Alves was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in a Barcelona nightclubCredit: AP
    Dani Alves’ statue in his hometown, Juazeiro, was wrapped in duct tape and bin bags as locals demand to get it removedCredit: X/@MCITY_8
    The life-size statue shows Alves wearing the Brazilian national team shirt and a football at his feetCredit: X/@MCITY_8
    The court ordered that Alves pay £130,000 (150,000 euros) to the victim and sentenced him to four and a half years behind bars.
    The Brazilian right-back has denied the allegations and is set to appeal the decision.
    Neighbours in his hometown of Juazeiro, in the state of Bahia, wrapped his statue with bin bags and duct tape in a bid to get it removed following Alves’ sentencing.
    According to Marca, a local wrote on social media: “It’s about time to vandalise the statue of Dani Alves on the outskirts of Juazeiro, right?
    Read more on Dani Alves
    “It has gotten embarrassing.”
    The statue was unveiled in 2020 as a tribute to Alves, born and raised in Juazeiro.
    The statue is located in the central region of the city and displays a life-size Daniel Alves wearing the Brazilian national team shirt and a football at his feet.
    But the work has been vandalised several times since the player’s arrest.
    Most read in Football
    The Juazeiro City Council is now considering removing the statue but said it will only comment on the matter after the athlete’s case has become final, Estadao reports.
    It has been revealed that Alves could be released from prison as soon as July 20 when he will have served a third of his sentence, reported Spanish media.
    Dani Alves’ model ex Joana Sanz arrives at court to reveal what ‘drunk’ ex-Barcelona star told her moments after ‘rape’
    He would be allowed to leave jail to work or “participate in activities” for the day before returning at night as per Spanish law. It is not clear what these activities will be.
    The disgraced footballer could also exchange part of his sentence in Spain for expulsion to Brazil, lawyer Agustín Martínez Becerra told Globo G1.
    Spanish law states that foreigners sentenced between one and five years in prison can request to exchange their sentence for expulsion to their home country.
    As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
    He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time and became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
    The Brazilian defender was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison but he may be able to leave in a matter of monthsCredit: AFPTimeline of Dani Alves’ caseDecember 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub

    January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona investigate an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves
    January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’ alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
    CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
    January 20, 2023: Alves is remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
    He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
    January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands a divorce
    February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
    March 17, 2023: Alves goes on a hunger strike following split from wife
    November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
    November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
    February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
    February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault
    February 7 2024: Alves tells a Spanish court the encounter was consensual More

  • in

    Dani Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz blasts cruel trolls who’ve been berating her after ex-Barcelona star’s rape conviction

    DANI Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz blasted cruel trolls who have been berating her following the disgraced footballer’s rape conviction.The Brazilian defender, 40, was found guilty for raping a woman in the bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
    Dani Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz, pictured right, blasted trolls who were berating her after his rape convictionCredit: Getty
    The 31-year-old said she’s been seeing ‘barbaric’ things onlineCredit: joanasanz/Instagram
    Joana also warned her thousands of followers not to believe everything they read on social mediaCredit: joanasanz/Instagram
    The Spanish model, 31, took her frustration to Instagram and warning her fans not to believe the “barbaric things” said about her.
    In a short video, Joana said: “I was thinking not to give more hype to certain incoherent headlines.
    “But it’s quite surprising how feminist they are for some things, and for others they call me what I’ve been seeing out there?
    “‘Frivolous’, ‘little girl’, why? Because I’m working? Of course.
    Read more on Dani Alves
    “But then, if I don’t work, someone’s paying my bills or worse things, worse barbaric things I’ve heard out there.
    “In short, they need to criticise us, no?”
    The Tenerife-born beauty continued: “Another thing is that what I publish on social networks is not my 24/7 and it does not always have to be how I feel or stop feeling, when I open up and want to express my feelings.
    “I do it and when I don’t, I don’t have to.”
    Most read in Football
    She concluded her post by telling her 947,000 followers not to believe everything they see online.
    She said: “I mean, my friends know that, my circle knows it, in the end they are the ones who are living with me, so stop being guided by malicious or distorted headlines that go nowhere.
    “Work, people, because in the end the fridge doesn’t fill itself.”
    It comes after Joana posted a glowing selfie just minutes after the former footballer was found guilty of rape.
    And she accidentally shared a bizarre letter the disgraced rapist wrote to her from prison.
    Before being handed a four-and-a-half year jail sentence on Thursday, Alves wrote his ex an intimate letter from his cell as he awaited trial.
    He pleaded for forgiveness and thanked the model for being a strong woman as she went through “such a difficult time”, Vogue reports.
    Timeline of Dani Alves’ caseDecember 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub
    January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona investigate an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves
    January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’ alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
    CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
    January 20, 2023: Alves is remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
    He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
    January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands a divorce
    February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
    March 17, 2023: Alves goes on a hunger strike following split from wife
    November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
    November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
    February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
    February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault
    February 7 2024: Alves tells a Spanish court the encounter was consensual

    Alves then declared his love for Joana, writing that he loves her very much, will always be with her, and that together, they are stronger.
    The letter also expressed gratitude for the model’s resilience amid the scandal.
    It read: “Within my imperfection, I learned that I cannot dedicate my time to what was, but rather transform my energy into what is.And what it is, is that you are what I dreamed of.
    “What I dreamed of and what I continue to dream of. I want to take all the paths with you. I didn’t have the wrong woman, yes, it was you.
    “There is not a single day, not a single moment, not a single plan in which you are not there.
    “I pray every day for the day to come that I can see you wake up. Nostalgia is not about not being able to do it now.
    “Wherever, whatever, whatever, but with you always by my side. I feel strange feelings. I love you.”
    After sharing the love note on her Instagram, the model quickly removed the post, saying she had meant to share it with her best friends only.
    She wrote: “I mistakenly posted something for everyone that was for best friends.
    “Tremendous speed of the media. Do they activate a follow-up on my Instagram with notifications or something?”
    Dani Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay £130,000 (150,000 euros) to the victim for the assault.
    But it can now be revealed that the Brazilian could be released from prison as soon as July 20 when he will have served a third of his sentence, reported Spanish media.
    Alves would be allowed to leave jail to work or “participate in activities” for the day before returning at night as per Spanish law. It is not clear what these activities will be.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    The disgraced footballer could also exchange part of his sentence in Spain for expulsion to Brazil, lawyer Agustín Martínez Becerra told Globo G1.
    Spanish law states that foreigners sentenced between one and five years in prison can request to exchange their sentence for expulsion to their home country.
    Joana posted this selfie a few minutes after Alves’ sentenceCredit: instagram/@joanasanz
    The Brazil star was sentenced to four and a half years in jail on ThursdayCredit: Reuters
    Alves and Joana tied the knot in 2017 and split last yearCredit: Getty More

  • in

    QPR star Ilias Chair sentenced to a year in jail for breaking truck driver’s skull with a rock

    QPR ace Ilias Chair has been sentenced to a year in jail – after being found guilty of breaking a truck driver’s skull with a rock.The Morocco midfielder has shone since joining the Championship club from Belgians Lierse in 2017.
    Ilias Chair has been sentenced to 12 months in prisonCredit: Rex
    Chair represented Morocco at the Qatar World CupCredit: Getty
    But a court in his home town Antwerp sentenced him to a year in jail, with a further 12 months suspended, on Friday morning.
    Chair, 26, was also ordered to pay his victim £13,400 compensation for his injuries.
    The news is a huge blow to QPR, who are battling against relegation to League One.
    The trial heard Chair, his brother Jaber and friends got into an argument with the trucker in Bazeilles, northern France, in summer 2020.
    READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
    They and the driver, named as Niels T, had been waiting for a bus back to Belgium after a kayaking trip.
    Antwerp’s public prosecutor told a January hearing: “According to many people involved, Ilias Chair lashed out at Niels T with a stone and knocked him unconscious.
    “The consequences were dramatic for Niels T.  He suffered a severe skull fracture, two centimetres long, and was taken to hospital at Reims in critical condition.
    “Afterwards he had to recover for a long time in a Belgian hospital, and could not do his job as a lorry driver for a long time.
    Most read in Football
    “The blow was almost fatal for him, and he still feels the after-effects.”
    Chair engaged a new lawyer, but the court rejected their pleas for a retrial on Friday.
    The player’s brother Jaber received a six-month suspended jail term and £700 fine for his part in the incident.
    Niels T’s lawyer said:  “My client almost lost his life, and it took surgeons to save him.  
    “He was unable to work for a long time, and still suffers adverse reactions every day to having been hit with a rock.”
    QPR issued a statement, whch read: “The club are, and have been, in regular contact with Ilias Chair’s legal team regarding a charge of assault which has been made against him.
    “The legal proceeding is yet to reach its conclusion. As such, the club will be making no further comment at this stage.”
    Chair last featured for QPR on February 17 against Bristol City scoring the game’s only goal in a 1-0 win.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    He has played 33 times in the league this season for the Rangers and has four goals and five assists for the Championship’s 22nd placed team.
    In total Chair has made 223 appearances for QPR since joining the academy in 2017 from Belgian club Lierse SK.
    Chair has been ordered to pay £13,400 to the victimCredit: Instagram @ilias_chair
    He has been handed a 12 month suspended sentence alongside his year long sentenceCredit: Instagram @ilias_chair
    The star last played for QPR on February 17Credit: Instagram @ilias_chair More

  • in

    Dani Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz accidentally shares bizarre letter pleading for forgiveness disgraced rapist wrote to her

    DANI Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz accidentally shared a bizarre letter the disgraced rapist wrote to her from prison.The Brazilian defender, 40, was found guilty for raping a woman in the bathroom of a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.
    Dani Alves allegedly wrote an intimate letter to his ex-wife Joana Sanz from prisonCredit: Getty
    The model said she accidentally shared the handwritten note on Instagram before deleting itCredit: Instagram
    Before being handed a four-and-a-half year jail sentence on Thursday, Alves wrote his ex an intimate letter from his cell as he awaited trial.
    He pleaded for forgiveness and thanked the model for being a strong woman as she went through “such a difficult time”, Vogue reports.
    Alves then declared his love for Joana, writing that he loves her very much, will always be with her, and that together, they are stronger.
    The letter also expressed gratitude for the model’s resilience amid the scandal.
    Read more on Dani Alves
    It read: “Within my imperfection, I learned that I cannot dedicate my time to what was, but rather transform my energy into what is.And what it is, is that you are what I dreamed of.
    “What I dreamed of and what I continue to dream of. I want to take all the paths with you. I didn’t have the wrong woman, yes, it was you.
    “There is not a single day, not a single moment, not a single plan in which you are not there.
    “I pray every day for the day to come that I can see you wake up. Nostalgia is not about not being able to do it now.
    Most read in Football
    “Wherever, whatever, whatever, but with you always by my side. I feel strange feelings. I love you.”
    Joana shared love note on her Instagram page in September, captioning the post: “Everyone knows, everyone knows, knows s***.”
    Dani Alves’ model ex Joana Sanz arrives at court to reveal what ‘drunk’ ex-Barcelona star told her moments after ‘rape’
    Followers were quick to investigate who was the mystery writer by comparing the handwriting with a letter that the footballer wrote to her in March.
    “That’s Daniel’s handwriting,” one user wrote.
    Another added: “[That’s a] love letter written by him.”
    But the model quickly removed the post, saying she had meant to share it with her best friends only.
    She wrote: “I mistakenly posted something for everyone that was for best friends.
    “Tremendous speed of the media. Do they activate a follow-up on my Instagram with notifications or something?”
    Dani Alves was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to pay £130,000 (150,000 euros) to the victim for the assault.
    But it can now be revealed that the Brazilian could be released from prison as soon as July 20 when he will have served a third of his sentence, reported Spanish media.
    Alves would be allowed to leave jail to work or “participate in activities” for the day before returning at night as per Spanish law. It is not clear what these activities will be.
    The disgraced footballer could also exchange part of his sentence in Spain for expulsion to Brazil, lawyer Agustín Martínez Becerra told Globo G1.
    Spanish law states that foreigners sentenced between one and five years in prison can request to exchange their sentence for expulsion to their home country.
    He said: “In Spain, a foreign person sentenced to less than five years can ask to be expelled immediately.
    “He [Daniel Alves] has two nationalities, and can claim that he is Brazilian.”
    But Becerra explained that Alves would only be able to make the request after a second instance court decision.
    The footballer’s Thursday sentencing is still deemed as a first instance decision, which Becerra calls “provisional”.
    A second instance decision could be reached if Alves decides to go through with his appeal and succeeds.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
    He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time and became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
    Alves was found guilty of sexually assaulting a young woman in a Barcelona nightclubCredit: AP
    Joana Sanz, pictured arriving in court, said her ex-husband ‘smelled’ of alcohol on the night of the crimeCredit: EPA
    The Brazilian defender was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison but he may be able to leave in a matter of monthsCredit: ReutersTimeline of Dani Alves’ caseDecember 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub

    January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona investigate an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves
    January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’ alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
    CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
    January 20, 2023: Alves is remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
    He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
    January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands a divorce
    February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
    March 17, 2023: Alves goes on a hunger strike following split from wife
    November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
    November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
    February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
    February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault
    February 7 2024: Alves tells a Spanish court the encounter was consensual More

  • in

    Inside Dani Alves’ Spanish prison with its own swimming pool that John McAfee likened to ‘the Hilton’ before his death

    DANI ALVES will serve his rape sentence in a Spanish prison a famous former convict likened to a “Hilton” hotel.The former Barcelona and Brazil defender was this week found guilty of raping a woman in a Spanish nightclub on New Year’s Eve in December 2022.
    Ex-Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves has been found guilty of rapeCredit: AFP
    The 40-year-old has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind barsCredit: AFP
    Alves will serve his sentence at the Brians 2 Prison outside of BarcelonaCredit: REUTERS
    The prison is not the most intimidating in comparison to othersCredit: DEPARTAMENT DE JUSTICA
    Alves, who protested his innocence throughout the trial, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars for the vile attack.
    The 40-year-old will serve his sentence at the Brians 2 prison, where he’s been on remand since January 2.
    The prison, which was opened in 2007 to help overcrowding in other penitentiaries, is home to 1500 inmates.
    But it’s not your run-of-the-mill prison.
    READ MORE ON DANI ALVES
    Brians 2, which is just over 20 miles away from Barcelona city centre, includes a massive swimming pool for convicts to keep cool during the sweltering summer months.
    Alves, according to reports, is set to share the prison with a former bodyguard of his old Brazil team-mate Ronaldinho.
    Marca claims Ronaldinho’s former protector – a man named Coutinho – is also behind bars at Brians 2 following a conviction for sexual assault.
    The most famous resident of the prison was antivirus software pioneer John McAfee, who died in its walls in June 2021.
    Most read in Football
    Anti-virus pioneer John McAfee likened Brians 2 to a ‘Hilton’ hotelCredit: AP
    McAfee – who was locked up in Brians 2 in October 2021 – faced multiple charges of fraud, money laundering and tax evasion in America before his death.
    And he was pleasantly surprised by the conditions of what proved to be his home for the final days of his life.
    Dani Alves’ model ex Joana Sanz arrives at court to reveal what ‘drunk’ ex-Barcelona star told her moments after ‘rape’
    He said: “Life in Spanish prisons is like the Hilton compared to the abject surrealism and dehumanization of American prisons.
    “Here I am treated as a human being instead of a number.”
    Although it’s a far cry from most prisons, Brians 2 has experienced its fair share of violence.
    Before McAfee’s arrest, a prisoner – who had been jailed for sexually exploiting minors and disabled individuals – was stabbed 29 times in his chest, neck and abdomen.
    An inmate with mental health problems also attacked his fellow inmates and staff in April 2020 before eventually being restrained.
    Multiple-time LaLiga and Champions League winner Alves vehemently denied his accusers’ claims before being sentenced to hard time.
    He admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim at the plush Sutton nightclub and claimed it was consensual.
    READ MORE SUN STORIES
    Prosecutors for the State and the victim had sought heftier punishments for Alves, demanding nine and 12-year sentences respectfully.
    Alves and his legal team plan to appeal his sentence. More