Dani Alves received a huge boost on Wednesday to his chances of getting a temporary release from custody. After his arrest in January 2023 on sexual assault accusations, he finally got bail.



Due to his financial difficulties, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/barcelona-strips-dani-alves-of-legendary-player-status-20240226-WST-491778.html">Alves</a> is unable to post the $1.1 million bond required for his release. This prompted him to seek financial support from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/saudi-stay-or-europe-club-president-reveals-neymars-future-20240211-WST-489025.html">Neymar</a>‘s father, who had previously helped him pay restitution to the victim.



In the meanwhile, Alves waits in prison for word on his sexual assault conviction appeal. The former player was found guilty of assaulting a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022. He was jailed the next February.



<h2>Neymar Sr.’s lack of payment leaves Dani Alves in custody</h2>



While the case was underway, authorities seized his bank accounts, making it difficult for him to pay the bond sum. Rumor has it that Neymar Sr. stepped in to assist. Thus, there is a history of links between <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/dani-alves-case-lands-neymar-in-hot-water-20240225-WST-491624.html">Neymar’s father and Alves’ money operations</a>; for example, he helped collect $162,000 for the victim in one of Alves’ cases.



The court had imposed a strict deadline of 2:30 pm local time for posting bail. However, Alves didn’t acquire the necessary funds, thereby delaying Alves’ release. It seemed like Neymar’s dad would chip in to get the ex-player out of jail quickly.



But now that Alves is guilty, they have chosen to stop supporting him. “As everyone knows, at first, I helped Dani Alves, without any link with any lawsuit.



“In this second moment, in a different situation from the previous one, in which the Spanish Courts have already decided for the conviction, they are speculating and trying to associate my name and my son’s with a matter that is no longer up to us today.



“I hope Daniel finds with his own family all the answers he is looking for. For us, for my family, the matter is over”, he wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4yJHzmO3Ma/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Instagram</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240322_WST_496856_Dani-Alves-prison-1200x670_a7b7a650.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-496877" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/Dani-Alves-prison-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/Dani-Alves-prison-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/Dani-Alves-prison-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/Dani-Alves-prison.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Political&nbsp;disputes&nbsp;exacerbate&nbsp;issues</h2>



Since the court considered Alves a flight risk, they had dismissed his previous petitions for bail. After serving 25% of his term in pre-trial incarceration after his arrest in January 2023, the veteran’s attorneys asked for the release of the disgraced fullback.



But to prevent Alves from potentially escaping to Brazil, his lawyer Ines Guardiola had already gathered his passports—one each from Spain and Brazil—to present to the court.



Interestingly, he may be able to find sanctuary in this nation as it does not have an extradition treaty with Spain. In the middle of all this, a schism among the Barcelona High Court justices became apparent. Judge Luis Balesta opposed Alves’ interim release, casting a dissenting vote against the majority.



Balesta requested that Alves serve half of the original sentence—2 years and 3 months—in jail. <a href="https://www.marca.com/en/football/2024/03/20/65fb26ae268e3ece518b4589.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marca</a> says that he worries about Alves’ financial capacity and since Spain and Brazil do not have an extradition system.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Dani Alves to remain in custody, Neymar Sr. refuses to post bail

Dani Alves received a huge boost on Wednesday to his chances of getting a temporary release from custody, but it will not happen in the end.

Former Brazilian player Dani Alves received his rape conviction on February 22. In December 2021, the ex-Brazilian international was allegedly involved in a sexual assault incident at a nightclub in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/barcelona-tv-schedule/">Barcelona</a>. 



Authorities sentenced the former player to a jail term, fined him $164,000, and required him to pay the victim’s legal fees. They have imposed a 9.5-year ban on him from contacting her.



Many were taken aback when the court sentenced player Dani Alves to a four-and-a-half-year <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/dani-alves-arrested-for-alleged-sexual-assault-20230120-WST-416221.html">jail term for sexual assault</a>. Even the Brazilian government considered the sentence ‘lenient’ given the ‘atrocity’ of the crime committed.



The Spanish Prosecutor’s Office initially sentenced the 40-year-old to nine to 12 years in jail. However, there was a “mitigating factor” in the form of the defendant paying the victim before the trial. Eventually, it resulted in a lower sentence.



An article from <a href="https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2024/01/09/neymar-cedeu-advogado-e-enviou-r-800-mil-para-reduzir-pena-de-daniel-alves.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">UOL</a> states that Dani Alves reduced the total duration of his incarceration. It was all thanks to financial assistance from <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/brazil-coach-rules-two-main-stars-out-of-march-friendlies-20240222-WST-491154.html">Neymar</a>‘s family, which he used to pay the fine. As a payment for “mitigating compensation for damage caused,” Neymar allegedly sent $164,000 to the Spanish institutions on August 9.



Yet, Neymar’s payment on his behalf significantly affected the length of Alves’ sentence. It would seem that the maximum sentence for sexual offenses in Spanish courts is 12 years in prison.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="439" height="286" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240225_WST_491624_image-16_6a8ba1f0.webp&amp;width=439&amp;height=286" alt="" class="wp-image-491651" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/image-16.png 439w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/02/image-16-300x195.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 439px) 100vw, 439px"></figure><figcaption>Alves was sentenced earlier this month</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Neymar faces strong criticism</h2>



After his divorce from Dinorah Santana, Alves’ assets have been blocked, so Neymar had to step in. To make matters worse for the player, she has him in court for failure to pay alimony.



As a result of his involvement in the sexual assault case involving his former national team colleague, Neymar has now come under fire from some prominent politicians in Brazil. Cida Goncalves, Brazil’s minister for women, criticized the sentence, calling it “soft”. Meanwhile, while Gleisi Hoffman, head of the Worker’s Party and a representative, criticized the Al-Hilal player for supporting Alves.



“The conviction of the rapist Daniel Alves is pedagogical and exemplary, it shows that society no longer tolerates sexist and misogynistic behavior. 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”, <a href="https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/actualidad/gobierno-brasil-estalla-neymar-pagar-98564599" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">said Hoffman</a>.



It makes one wonder where the authorities draw the line between ensuring justice for the wealthy and those without means. In terms of Alves’ riches, it’s a small part of his money and yearly pay, and according to reports, it’s less than Neymar’s weekly wages.



<h2>Alves out of prison earlier than expected?</h2>



Much worse, Alves may be eligible for early release from prison later this year. Consulting with legal counsel, they have determined that Alves may be eligible for early release from jail in January of 2026. That is if he has complied with the terms of his sentence and shown good behavior.



Prisoners in Spain are classified into three levels. Most severely restricted to their cells are the first-degree inmates because of the risk they pose. This second is more typical because it allows convicts to do things like study or work outside of their cells. 



But, jails allow prisoners serving their third degree to leave the prison grounds during the day, as long as they return to their cells for the night.



Inmates must have performed well for one-third of their sentence—in this instance, 18 months—to be eligible for this third degree. By July of 2024, he would have served his time in prison throughout the inquiry and trial, having turned himself in in January of 2023.



Photo credit: IMAGO / CordonPress.

Dani Alves' case lands Neymar in hot water

In the wake of the sexual assault case involving Dani Alves, Neymar came under fire from prominent politicians in Brazil.

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Dani Alves to remain in custody, Neymar Sr. refuses to post bail

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Dani Alves' case lands Neymar in hot water