In a surprising turn of events, the father of soccer superstar Neymar, Neymar da Silva Santos, has announced that his family will not pay the one million euros ($1.1 million) required to bail former Brazil defender, Dani Alves, out of prison. Alves is currently awaiting the result of an appeal to his rape conviction.

Neymar da Silva Santos stated in a family statement that while they provided financial support to Alves during his trial, they will not continue to do so now that he has been found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022. "For us, for my family, this matter is over. Full stop," emphasized Neymar da Silva Santos.

Dani Alves, who is 40 years old, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison and is currently being held at a jail outside Barcelona. Despite not disclosing the exact amount they previously provided, Neymar's father mentioned that it is a "different situation" now due to the recent ruling against Alves by the three-judge panel at the Barcelona Provincial Court.

Neymar's father also expressed hope that Alves "can find all the answers he looks for in his own family." However, he distanced himself and his son from any further involvement in the matter. The court's sentence considered favorably that Alves had paid the court 150,000 euros before the trial to be given to the victim unconditionally.

It is worth noting that Neymar and Alves were teammates at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and for the Brazilian national team. Currently, Neymar plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, while Alves, who has maintained his innocence throughout the case, has remained in custody since his arrest in January 2023.

Alves' previous attempts to secure bail were denied due to the court deeming him a flight risk. Brazil, as a policy, does not extradite its own citizens when they are sentenced in other countries. If bail were to be granted, Alves would have to surrender his Brazilian and Spanish passports and would be prohibited from leaving Spain.

As the case unfolds, the Brazilian soccer confederation is yet to comment on the situation, and the head of its delegation for two upcoming friendlies in Europe has stated that the topic is being ignored. However, significant figures such as Leila Pereira, the chairwoman of Brazilian club Palmeiras, have spoken out about the issue. Pereira criticized the decision to grant bail to Alves, stating that such impunity sets a dangerous precedent for future crimes.

Meanwhile, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has also voiced his disapproval, lambasting the Spanish court's decision and emphasizing that money cannot buy dignity. Lula previously advocated for former footballer Robinho, who was convicted of rape in Italy and will now serve his sentence in Brazil, to be held accountable.

The developments surrounding Dani Alves' case continue to stir controversy not only within the sporting world but also on the international stage, as figures like Neymar's father, Leila Pereira, and President Lula express their positions on the matter. The implications of this high-profile case may have far-reaching consequences when it comes to discussions surrounding rape and the accountability of athletes.