Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his aspiration for Robinho to undergo the execution of his sentence within the confines of Brazilian jurisdiction. The decision regarding the enforcement of former Manchester City and Real Madrid striker Robinho’s nine-year rape conviction, issued by an Italian court, will be rendered by Brazil’s justice system on Wednesday. Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ) is slated to evaluate the Italian plea for the endorsement of the prison term, which was initially decreed in 2017 and reaffirmed in 2022. Robinho, who has consistently maintained his innocence, articulated his desire for a fair hearing in Brazil, a sentiment conveyed during an interview with the Brazilian television network TV Record on Sunday.
Robson de Souza, widely known as “Robinho,” continues to be at liberty notwithstanding his conviction as part of a group of six individuals implicated in the gang rape of a young Albanian woman celebrating her 23rd birthday at a Milan nightclub in 2013. At the time of the incident, former Brazilian international Robinho was plying his trade for AC Milan. Subsequent to the affirmation of his sentence by Italy’s highest judicial authority, an international arrest warrant was issued by Italian prosecutors. Nonetheless, due to Brazil’s policy of not extraditing its citizens, Italy has sought for Robinho to serve his sentence within his home country.
In his remarks to TV Record on Sunday, Robinho decried what he perceived as racial bias within the Italian judicial system, asserting the consensual nature of the encounter in question. He emphasized his refusal to deny the occurrence of the incident, citing the absence of his DNA at the scene, while denouncing the pervasive issue of racism in Italy, which he encountered during his four-year tenure in the country. Notwithstanding the forthcoming decision, should the ruling be unfavorable, the 40-year-old Robinho may continue to remain at liberty pending an appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil has expressed his optimism for Robinho to undergo the fulfillment of his sentence within the territorial confines of Brazil.
Unprecedented case
According to reports from Brazilian media outlets, it is anticipated that magistrates will grant approval to Italy’s extradition request.
“The granting of approval is not commonplace, as the pertinent legislation is relatively recent. Should approval be given, it would mark an unprecedented occurrence within the Brazilian legal framework,” remarked lawyer Leonardo Pantaleao in statements provided to AFP.
Meanwhile, the legal proceedings involving Robinho and former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves have prompted widespread criticism regarding the perceived failure of football authorities in Brazil to address issues related to violence against women.
In February, Dani Alves, a former international player for Brazil, was handed a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for the rape of a woman at a nightclub in Barcelona. Despite the gravity of the charges, responses from entities such as the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Alves’ previous clubs, and former teammates have been notably absent.
Former Brazil coach Tite refrained from passing judgment, stating that he could not form an opinion without access to all pertinent facts and verifiable information regarding the case.
Robinho, once heralded as a rising star in Brazilian football, has experienced a precipitous decline in reputation. Initially emerging from the ranks of Santos, a club renowned for its association with Brazilian football legend Pele, Robinho was once touted as the heir to the legacy of iconic players such as Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho.
In 2005, Robinho departed Santos to join the ranks of Real Madrid, where he played alongside luminaries such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham. Despite stints with prominent European clubs and victories in international competitions such as the Confederations Cup (in 2005 and 2009) and the Copa America (in 2007), Robinho’s career was marred by inconsistency.
In 2009, he faced allegations of sexual assault in England, though the charges were later dropped following an investigation.
Robinho’s return to Santos in 2020 was met with controversy, prompting the club to suspend his contract amidst pressure from fans, sponsors, and the media, effectively signaling the premature end of his professional football career.