Dani Alves will be released but with limits. He will be allowed to move within the national territory but cannot leave Spain, as he does not hold both valid passports that he previously had, the Spanish and the Brazilian. Additionally, the Barcelona court wants to keep him under watch due to a perceived risk of flight and has ordered that he appear weekly at the tribunal to confirm he complies with his obligations. Consequently, his presence at the Barcelona courts is expected to be routine. Citation: Barcelona Audiencia decision summary.
He also will not be able to communicate with or approach within a distance of one thousand meters of the victim, her residence, or her workplace. The plaintiff’s lawyer explained on Wednesday, after the decision became known that Alves could be released upon posting a one-million-euro bond, that she felt pain, frustration, and despair about the order from the Barcelona court and did not understand it. Citation: Court filing and attorney remarks.
With freedom, Alves could resume his football career. If a club accepts him, he could train again and regain fitness to continue playing. While in prison for the past fourteen months at Brians 2, he participated in football matches and was a regular on the prison’s field. He might also resume late-night outings with friends or attend sports events if he prefers. Citation: Parole conditions and past prison activity.
A harder return to Brazil
Recent hours have revealed that Brazilian justice has ordered former footballer Robson de Souza, known as Robinho, to serve in a Brazilian prison the nine-year sentence imposed in 2017 in Italy for rape. Robinho, aged 40, was found guilty of participating in a gang sexual assault of a young Albanian woman at a Milan nightclub in 2013 during his stint with AC Milan. Citation: Italian verdict homologation and Brazilian execution request.
The current Brazilian government has begun a campaign against violence toward women in the country and supported the Italian judgment. Italian authorities asked Brazilian justice to homologate the sentence and to order the former player to serve his term in Brazil. Citation: Government stance and international cooperation.
If Alves were to slip away to Brazil while free on provisional release, he could face a situation similar to Robinho’s, needing to serve the sentence in his home country for the offense alleged in the Barcelona incident. Citation: Potential cross-border enforcement considerations.