Former soccer star Robinho, known for his time with clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan, has started serving a nine-year prison sentence in his native Brazil. This comes more than a decade after he was first accused of raping a woman in Italy.
Robinho, now 40 years old, left his apartment in Santos, Brazil, in a police car after losing a bid to remain free pending appeals. The Brazilian high court ruled that he must serve his sentence in Brazil due to his 2017 rape conviction in Italy.
The Superior Court of Justice in Brasilia voted 9-2 to uphold Robinho's conviction for his involvement in a group sexual assault in 2013 while playing for AC Milan. Despite his denial of any wrongdoing, Robinho was sentenced to nine years in prison in Italy.
Robinho's lawyers sought a new trial in Brazil based on national sovereignty grounds, but their request was denied. The former footballer, who surrendered his passport in March 2023, is expected to spend his initial hours in custody discussing the legal proceedings that led to his arrest.
Following the hearing, Robinho will be transferred to a penitentiary, the location of which has not been disclosed by authorities. Brazil's policy of not extraditing its nationals led to Italy seeking his imprisonment in his home country.
Robinho, who rose to fame in 2002 with Santos and later played for top European clubs, continues to maintain his innocence. In a recent interview, he attributed his conviction to racism and criticized the handling of his case.
Throughout his career, Robinho won domestic and international titles, including the Serie A with AC Milan. Despite his on-field success, his involvement in the rape case has overshadowed his achievements in football.
As Robinho begins his prison term, the case serves as a reminder of the complexities and consequences of off-field behavior for professional athletes, regardless of their on-field accomplishments.
