Robinho, the former football sensation renowned for his stints with Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan, has been mandated to serve a nine-year prison term in Brazil for a rape conviction stemming from an incident in Italy in 2013.
The verdict was handed down by Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice, with a 9-2 majority validating Robinho’s conviction. The case involved a collective sexual assault, resulting in Robinho’s nine-year sentence in Italy. However, owing to Brazil’s policy of not extraditing its citizens, Italy pursued the enforcement of Robinho’s sentence in his homeland.
Robinho’s legal representative, José Eduardo Alckmin, advocated for a retrial in Brazil, citing national sovereignty. Despite these efforts, the court ruled in favor of executing the sentence in Brazil, asserting no impediment to its validation. Francisco Falcão, the first judge to vote, endorsed serving the sentence in Brazil, deeming the conviction conclusive. Robinho, a resident of Santos outside São Paulo, surrendered his passport to Brazilian authorities in March 2023. He continues to assert his innocence, claiming consensual relations with the woman at a Milan bar.
The case has prompted criticism and debate, particularly concerning the failure of Brazilian football authorities to condemn violence against women. Robinho’s situation, alongside that of former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves, has underscored the silence from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Robinho’s former clubs, and ex-teammates. Nonetheless, Robinho remains optimistic about asserting his innocence in Brazil.
Robinho football journey commenced at Santos, a club synonymous with Brazilian legend Pele. Hailed as the heir to the golden era of Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho, Robinho departed Santos in 2005 to join the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham at Real Madrid. Despite gracing Europe’s elite clubs and securing numerous accolades, Robinho’s career was marked by sporadic brilliance.
In 2009, he faced brief detainment in England over an alleged sexual assault on a young woman, though charges were dropped following an inquiry. His return to Santos in 2020 was marred by suspension of the deal due to pressure from fans, sponsors, and media, culminating in an abrupt end to his career.
The ruling on Robinho’s sentence represents a groundbreaking case in Brazil, given the recent law allowing such enforcement. Should the ruling not favor him, Robinho may remain at liberty while awaiting an appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has expressed optimism about Robinho “serving” his sentence on Brazilian soil.
Also Read:Â Mauricio Umansky Unhappy With Scrutiny Over His Split From Kyle Richards
