Renowned former soccer player Robinho commenced serving a nine-year prison term in his native Brazil on Thursday, over a decade after initial allegations surfaced accusing him of sexual assault in Italy.
The 40-year-old Robinho departed his residence located in the coastal city of Santos, adjacent to Sao Paulo, escorted by law enforcement personnel in a black police vehicle subsequent to an unsuccessful attempt to remain at liberty pending appeals.
A decision rendered by Brazil’s highest court on Wednesday mandated Robinho’s incarceration within his home country following his conviction for rape in Italy in 2017. Justices of Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice, situated in Brasilia, voted 9-2 to affirm the conviction of the former Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan forward.
Robinho received a nine-year prison sentence in Italy for his involvement in a group sexual assault incident in 2013, transpiring during his tenure with AC Milan.
Earlier on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux dismissed a habeas corpus plea seeking Robinho’s release pending appeals. His legal representatives are advocating for a retrial in Brazil based on grounds of national sovereignty.
In compliance with Brazilian legal procedures, Robinho is anticipated to undergo an initial judicial hearing subsequent to his apprehension to scrutinize potential procedural irregularities leading to his arrest.
Following this hearing, Robinho will be transferred to a correctional facility, the location of which authorities have yet to disclose.
Brazil’s policy of not extraditing its citizens prompted Italy to pursue his incarceration within his home country.
“Brazil cannot provide sanctuary to individuals who have committed crimes,” remarked Judge Mauro Campbell Marques during the court proceedings.
In March 2023, Robinho surrendered his passport to Brazilian authorities. He maintains his innocence, asserting that his interactions with the woman in a Milan bar were consensual.
In a televised interview aired on Sunday by TV Record, the former athlete attributed his conviction in Italy to racism. “During my four years in Italy, I frequently encountered instances of racism. Unfortunately, it persists to this day. The incident in question transpired in 2013, yet we are now in 2024. Those who fail to combat racism are the same individuals who have condemned me,” Robinho asserted.
Robinho gained national prominence in 2002 at the age of 18 when he guided Santos to its first national championship victory since the Pelé era, replicating this success two years later. He represented Brazil in the Confederations Cup and subsequently transferred to Real Madrid, where his achievements were less notable. He later joined Manchester City in 2008 and faced allegations of rape during a night out in Leeds, although no charges were filed by the police.
After a brief stint at Manchester City, Robinho returned to Santos in 2010, assuming a mentoring role for a young Neymar. He contributed to Santos’ victory in the Brazilian Cup and secured a spot in Brazil’s starting lineup for the 2010 World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands.
Subsequent to his tenure at AC Milan, where he clinched the Serie A title, Robinho reunited with Santos following the rape allegations, interspersed with spells in China and Turkey.