Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves, who had been on trial for sexual assault charges involving a 23-year-old victim at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022, has been found guilty. The Barcelona Provincial Court sentenced him to four years and six months in jail on Thursday.
The court issued the judgment against Alves after evidence was presented, proving the former player’s guilt. Additionally, he will be paying a compensatory amount of €150,000 to the victim. Notably, he isn’t the first player associated with Brazil and Barcelona to have served time in prison. In fact, Brazilian legend Ronaldinho had also faced imprisonment previously.
Why did Ronaldinho go to prison in 2020?
Ronaldo de Assís Moreira, famously known as Ronaldinho, the former Brazil and Barcelona icon, is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. His exceptional playmaking skills, dribbling, and the trickery and flair in his game were simply unprecedented, making him one of the most entertaining players to watch in action.
Ronaldinho enjoyed a glorious playing career, having played for some of the most elite clubs, including Barcelona, AC Milan, and PSG. Even in his homeland, he represented some of the top clubs. During his playing days, he won every title in the sport, ranging from the FIFA World Cup to the Copa America with the iconic Brazil team.
He won Serie A with AC Milan, La Liga, and the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona. He was named the Ballon d’Or winner and FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 for his heroic season in Barcelona colors. Post-retirement, Ronaldinho served a five-month jail sentence in Paraguay for entering the South American nation with a fake passport in 2020.
After retirement, Ronaldinho faced bankruptcy due to his lavish lifestyle, resulting in his properties being seized by the government. Additionally, his passports were suspended for not paying taxes. Consequently, Ronaldinho and his brother attempted to enter Paraguay with fake documents but were arrested at the airport. He was later released after paying fines.
Soccer fans are upset with Neymar for backing Dani Alves during trial
Reverting to the present, the soccer community is upset with Neymar Jr., who returned to Al-Hilal after a four-month injury absence. The controversy stems from his support for his close friend and teammate, Dani Alves, during the proceedings of his trial due to sexual assault charges.
Neymar’s aid ranged from paying €150,000 in damages to hiring legal representatives and providing every possible form of assistance. Fans have demonstrated their backlash on social media against the Neymar.
A netizen wrote, “Read that Dani Alves story…and I’m disgusted Neymar throwing money for him and only having 4.5 years for what he did was crazy. Dani Alves changing his story 5, yes FIVE TIMES should’ve been enough to give him the max sentence.”
Another fan said, “Dani Alves had his sentence for rape lowered because Neymar gave the court 150,000 euros. The option of being allowed to pay to reduce a criminal sentence is one of the biggest scandals of our times and makes a complete mockery of justice for all. Que verguenza, España.”
“So, in the Dani Alves case: the victim asked for his sentence to be 12 years, the Public Minister asked for it to be 9 years, but he got only 4,5 years all that thanks to Neymar’s money! You can be sure, whenever Neymar is involved, nothing good will come out of it.”, a third fan added.
Do you think Neymar was right in helping his friend?
