Ex-Brazil star Robinho ‘should serve nine-year prison sentence for rape in his homeland’ national authorities claim, insisting they ‘must uphold conviction of Italian authorities’ – with former Man City forward guilty of crime when he played for AC Milan
- Robinho was convicted of sexual assault by Italian authorities in 2017
- For legal reasons, he cannot be extradited to Italy to serve his sentence
Former football star Robinho last night moved one step closer to serving his nine-year prison sentence for rape in Brazil.
Last November, Italian authorities asked Brazilian officials to let the former Real Madrid, AC Milan and Manchester City star serve his prison sentence in his home country after his extradition was ruled out for legal reasons.
Earlier on Tuesday, prosecutors in Brazil said they believed the footballer could and should be jailed there.
They told the country’s Supreme Court that this was in line with national law and would serve a dual purpose: showcasing the country’s efforts in fighting crime and judicial cooperation.
The possibility that Robinho will serve a prison sentence in Italy following his 2017 conviction for assault in a Milan nightclub and the failure of his appeal against his nine-year sentence has been ruled out because Brazil does not extradite its citizens convicted abroad.
Robinho is one step closer to serving his nine-year prison sentence for rape in Brazil
The former Brazilian star was convicted of the crime by Italian authorities in 2017, but was unable to serve his time there because Brazil does not extradite its citizens convicted abroad
According to local reports, the Brazilian Public Prosecution Service had indicated in its communications with the Supreme Court that failure to grant the Italian request risked allowing Robinho to ignore the law with impunity.
The ex-footballer was part of a group of six men convicted of sexually assaulting an Albanian woman at a Milan club on January 22, 2013, while he was playing for AC Milan.
The news was made public in November 2017.
The 39-year-old, whose real name is Robson de Souza, re-signed with boyhood club Santos for a fourth spell in October 2020, but less than a week later his contract was terminated by mutual consent.
The decision was made after main sponsor Orthopride cut ties with the club in response to the deal due to his Italian rape conviction.
After Santos’ announcement, the striker admitted via Instagram: ‘Guys, this is Robinho.
‘Of course, it is with great sadness in my heart that I am here to tell you that I have taken the decision together with the club chairman to suspend my contract at this difficult time in my life.
Prosecutors in Brazil said they believed the footballer could and should be jailed there
“My goal has always been to help Santos Football Club and if I get in the way in any way, it is best for me to leave and concentrate on my personal matters.”
Since then, he has only updated his social media a handful of times, wishing his two million fans a Happy New Year with posts on January 1, 2022, and again in January this year.
Robinho’s lawyers have said their client had consensual sexual relations in a bar with a young woman, along with five of his friends.
They have not yet commented on the Brazilian Public Prosecution’s position on the ex-footballer going to prison in his home country.
