Neymar slammed for ‘absurd’ role in Dani Alves sexual assault case - after allegedly giving ex-Brazil team-mate €150k - with four-and-a-half year sentence criticised as ‘soft’

Alves, 40, wasjailed for four and a half yearsafter being found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. After Brazilian Minister for Women Cida Goncalves called the sentence "soft" for such an "atrocity" (via Sport), President of the Worker’s Party and representative Gleisi Hoffman has hit out at Neymar for allegedly paying the €150,000 (£129,000/$164,000) in damages that ex-Brazil and Barcelona team-mate Alves was supposed to pay the victim.

Hoffman said, via Football Espana: "The conviction of the rapist Daniel Alves is pedagogical and exemplary, it shows that society no longer tolerates sexist and misogynistic behaviour. The absurd thing was that he borrowed money from Neymar, paid the compensation and reduced the sentence, something that does not solve anything for the victim, it does not erase their suffering."

Alves had a glittering career, playing for Barcelona, Brazil, Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and more, but the rape charge has forever tarnished his legacy. He was arguably the greatest right-back of his generation but this changes how he will be remembered in perpetuity.

Alves is likely to appeal this verdict, so a response to that will happen in due course. Incidentally, in Spain, a rape claim is investigated under the accusation of sexual assault and convictions can lead from four to 15 years in prison.