Robinho Receives 9-Year Prison Sentence After Rape Conviction: Former Brazil and Man City Star

The Brazilian high court has ruled that Robinho, a former football star, must serve his nine-year sentence in Brazil for a rape conviction in Italy back in 2017. This comes after Robinho was originally sentenced to prison in Italy for his involvement in a group sexual assault incident that occurred in 2013 while he was playing for AC Milan. As Brazil does not extradite its own citizens, Italy had requested that Robinho serve his sentence within Brazil. The decision was made by Brazil's Superior Court of Justice with a 9-2 vote, affirming the ruling of the Italian court.

Robinho, aged 40, has the opportunity to appeal to Brazil's Supreme Court as he continues to deny the allegations against him, maintaining that the encounter in question was consensual. Currently residing in Santos, near Sao Paulo, Robinho has surrendered his passport to Brazilian authorities. During Wednesday's hearing, Robinho's lawyer, Jose Eduardo Alckmin, expressed his client's desire for a retrial in Brazil, citing national sovereignty as the basis. The first judge to cast a vote, Francisco Falco, highlighted the importance of Robinho facing consequences for his actions, stating that his sentence should be served in Brazil.

Mr. Falco also acknowledged the possibility of diplomatic tensions arising between Brazil and Italy if Robinho's sentence remains unfulfilled.

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“There’s no obstacle to validate the execution of his sentence. It was confirmed by a court in Milan, which is the competent authority in this case,” Mr Falco said. “The conviction is final. The defendant was not put on trial in absence in Italy, he had representation.”

According to Goal, Robinho has recently alleged that his nine-year prison sentence is a consequence of racism in Italy.

He reportedly told Record TV: “I was convicted in Italy unjustly for something that did not happen and I have all the evidence to show that. I played four years in Italy and I got tired of seeing stories of racism. Unfortunately, it happens today. That happened in 2013 and today we are in 2024, which leads me to believe that the same people who do nothing against racism are the same ones who they condemned at my trial.

“If my trial were for a white person, it would be totally different, without a doubt,” he added.

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