Former Manchester City and Real Madrid footballer Robinho, whose full name is Robson de Souza, was arrested in Brazil on Thursday after a last-minute court bid to postpone his nine-year sentence for rape was rejected. Supreme Court Judge Luiz Fux dismissed Robinho’s request for a stay, affirming that the detention order would stand, allowing him to commence his sentence.
The arrest was executed by the Federal Police in Santos, southeastern Brazil, following the issuance of an arrest warrant against Robinho. He is slated to undergo a medical examination, attend a custody hearing, and then be transferred to the prison system.
Robinho, 40, was found guilty by an Italian court in 2017 of participating in the gang rape of a woman at a Milan nightclub in 2013. Despite losing an appeal in 2020 and having his sentence upheld by Italy’s highest court in 2022, Robinho remained in Brazil as the country does not extradite its citizens.
His lawyers’ plea to the Supreme Court for his continued liberty during the legal process was dismissed. Robinho, who maintains his innocence, has accused the Italian justice system of racism and claims that the sexual encounter was consensual.
The victim, an Albanian woman, was allegedly made unconscious through excessive alcohol consumption before being assaulted by Robinho and his co-accused. In March 2021, a Milan appeals court characterized the crime as being committed with “special contempt for the victim, who was brutally humiliated.”
Robinho’s case, along with that of former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves, has drawn criticism over the failure of football authorities in Brazil to condemn violence against women. Alves, also a former Brazil international, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub.
The silence from the football world regarding the convictions of Robinho and Alves has provoked outrage, with Palmeiras president Leila Pereira condemning the impunity surrounding such cases. Pereira emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators accountable to prevent future crimes.
For Robinho, once hailed as a rising star in Brazilian football, the arrest marks a stark downfall. Despite a successful career that included stints at renowned clubs such as Santos, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, his legacy is now marred by serious criminal allegations.
