A member of the Brazilian government launches a harsh criticism of Neymar for the role in the case of Dani Alves

The shock waves from a guilty verdict are still reverberating around the world after Dani Alves was found guilty of sexual assault amounting to rape on Thursday. Alves was sentenced to four and a half years, another five on probation, a nine-year restraining order, and ordered to pay €150k in damages to the victim.

The ruling was met with a mixed response. The prosecution asked for 9 years in prison, while the victim asked for the full sentence of 12 years, with the final result close to the minimum sentence of four years. The judge considered the payment of damages in full as a mitigating factor. To make matters worse, Alves could be allowed out of prison later this year.

Ace for Sport, Brazilian Minister for Women Cida Goncalves called the sentence “soft” for “such an atrocity.” Meanwhile, Labor Party president and representative Gleisi Hoffman was critical Neymar Jrthe role in the case. It is believed that Neymar's family gave Alves €150,000 in damages, leading to his reduced sentence.

“The conviction of the violator Daniel Alves is pedagogical and exemplary, it shows that society no longer tolerates sexist and misogynistic behavior. The absurdity was that he borrowed money from Neymar, paid the compensation and reduced the penalty, something that doesn't solve anything for the victim, it doesn't eliminate their suffering,” Hoffman said.

It certainly raises questions about the divide between justice for the rich and the poor. Equally, as a proportion of Alves or Neymar's wealth, it represents a fraction of the former's fortune and annual salary, while it is believed to be much less than a week's earnings for Neymar.