Robinho begins serving 9-year prison term in Brazil for 2013 sexual assault in Italy

Former football star Robinho, who was accused of rape in Italy over 10 years ago, has begun serving a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil. The 40-year-old left his apartment in Santos, Brazil, in a police car after losing an appeal to remain free pending further legal action. A high court in Brazil ruled that Robinho must serve his sentence in his home country due to his conviction in Italy in 2017 for his involvement in a group sexual assault while playing for AC Milan.

Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice voted 9-2 to validate Robinho’s conviction, and a Supreme Court Justice denied a request for him to remain free on bail pending appeals. He is expected to spend his first hours in custody discussing any illegalities in the proceedings that led to his arrest before being taken to a penitentiary. Italy sought his imprisonment in Brazil due to the country’s law that does not extradite its nationals, with a judge stating that Brazil cannot be a haven for criminals.

Despite denying any wrongdoing and claiming that his sexual relations with the woman in Milan were consensual, Robinho has been convicted and will serve his sentence. In an interview, he blamed racism for his conviction, stating that the same people who do not address racism were the ones who sentenced him. Robinho rose to fame in Brazil as a young player leading Santos to national titles before moving to clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan.

After returning to Santos to mentor Neymar, Robinho’s career saw success with club and country, winning titles and representing Brazil in the World Cup. Following the rape accusation in 2009, he faced no charges, but the 2013 incident in Italy led to his conviction and subsequent legal battles. Robinho continues to maintain his innocence and insists on the consensual nature of the encounter. He relinquished his passport to Brazilian authorities and awaits his sentence in a case that has sparked discussions about justice, national sovereignty, and the treatment of criminals in Brazil.