Brazilian footballer Robinho starts 9-year prison term for rape

Former footballer Robinho, once a prominent soccer player, has commenced his nine-year prison term in his homeland of Brazil, over a decade after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Italy. 

The 40-year-old Robinho departed his residence in the coastal town of Santos, near Sao Paulo, in a dark police vehicle after an unsuccessful attempt to remain at liberty while awaiting appeal. 

A Brazilian supreme court decision on Wednesday mandated that Robinho serve his sentence within Brazil due to his conviction for rape in Italy back in 2017. 

Justices at Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice in Brasilia voted 9-2 to uphold the verdict against the former Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan striker. 

Robinho was handed a nine-year prison sentence in Italy for his involvement in a group sexual assault in 2013 during his time at AC Milan. 

Earlier on the same day, Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux turned down a habeas corpus plea that would have enabled the former athlete to stay out of custody during the appeal process. His legal team is seeking a fresh trial in Brazil, citing reasons related to national sovereignty. 

As per Brazilian law, Robinho is anticipated to spend his initial hours in detention attending a hearing with a judge to address any potential irregularities in the legal procedures that led to his arrest. 

Subsequently, Robinho will be transferred to a correctional facility, the location of which has not been disclosed by authorities. 

Due to Brazil’s policy of not extraditing its citizens, Italy had requested his incarceration in his home country. 

Judge Mauro Campbell Marques remarked during the court session, "Brazil cannot serve as a haven for criminals." 

In March 2023, Robinho surrendered his passport to Brazilian authorities. He maintains his innocence, asserting that his sexual encounter with the woman at a Milan bar was consensual. 

In an interview with TV Record broadcasted on Sunday, the former player attributed his conviction in Italy to racism. "I spent only four years in Italy and I was tired of experiencing instances of racism. Unfortunately, it still persists to this day. (The rape case) occurred in 2013, and now we are in 2024. The same individuals who turn a blind eye to racism are the ones who have sentenced me," Robinho expressed. 

Robinho gained national recognition in 2002 as an 18-year-old sensation who guided Santos to its first national championship since the Pelé era. He repeated this feat two years later. He clinched the Confederations Cup with Brazil before moving to Real Madrid, where he did not achieve the same success. In 2008, he transferred to Manchester City and was accused of rape a year later following an incident in Leeds. However, authorities did not press charges. 

Returning to Santos in 2010, Robinho acted as a mentor to the budding talent Neymar. He secured the Brazilian Cup as a role model for the promising youngster and secured a spot in Brazil’s starting lineup for the 2010 World Cup. Unfortunately, his team was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands. 

Following the World Cup, Robinho joined AC Milan and claimed the Serie A title in the same year. After the rape case, he reunited with Santos and also had spells in China and Türkiye. 

Source: AP