Brazil’s justice system is set to rule on whether Robinho, the former Manchester City and Real Madrid striker, will serve his nine-year rape sentence in his home country, Brazil. The Italian court handed down the sentence in 2017, which was confirmed in 2022. The Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ) will consider Italy’s request for approval of the sentence on Wednesday.
Robinho, whose real name is Robson de Souza, expressed hope for justice in Brazil, emphasizing his innocence in an interview with Brazilian network TV Record on Sunday. The former Brazil international, accused of participating in the gang rape of a young Albanian woman in Milan in 2013, has remained free despite the conviction. Italy, unable to extradite its nationals, seeks to enforce the sentence in Brazil.
The 40-year-old footballer accused the Italian justice system of racism, maintaining that the encounter was consensual. If the ruling goes against him, Robinho may still remain free pending an appeal to Brazil’s Supreme Court. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his desire for Robinho to serve the sentence in Brazil.
Legal experts anticipate the approval of Italy’s request, which would be an unprecedented case in Brazil. Meanwhile, Robinho’s case and that of another former football star, Dani Alves, have raised criticism over the failure of football authorities in Brazil to address violence against women. Alves was recently sentenced to prison for rape in Spain.
Robinho’s career, once promising as a successor to Brazil’s football legends, has been marred by past allegations and legal troubles. Despite intermittent displays of talent for major European clubs, his career faced setbacks, including allegations of sexual assault in England in 2009.
