A 34-year-old Brazilian man, Nelson Ribeiro Fonseca Junior, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for stealing a football signed by Neymar during the violent 2023 riots at Brazil’s Congress.
The Supreme Court on Monday found him guilty of robbery, attempted coup, armed criminal association, and attacking Brazil’s democracy. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that Ribeiro played an active role in the riot that saw thousands of supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro storm government buildings in the capital, Brasilia.
The stolen ball, signed by Neymar and gifted to the Chamber of Deputies in 2012 by his boyhood club Santos, had been on display in the National Congress building.
Ribeiro admitted taking the ball but claimed he found it on the ground during the chaos and later returned it to police after 20 days. His lawyers argued that he only took it to keep it safe. But the court dismissed the excuse, saying the ball was a public asset and part of Brazil’s heritage.
Justice Moraes said Ribeiro’s actions helped in the sacking of key government buildings, including the Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace.
The riots happened on January 8, 2023, just one week after President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was sworn in. Supporters of Bolsonaro, who lost the 2022 election to Lula, demanded military intervention to remove the new president.
Over 500 people have been convicted for their roles in the incident. Bolsonaro, though not present during the riot, is still facing trial for allegedly planning to stay in power if he lost the election. He denies any wrongdoing.
