December 11 – Robinho’s appeal over a nine-year prison sentence for rape has been thrown out by a court in Milan.
The player was found guilty, along with five other people, of sexually assaulting a 22-year-old Albanian woman in January 2013 when he was playing for AC Milan.
The original trial court held that the Albanian woman was gang-raped by Robinho and five other people at a Milan nightclub called Sio Café.
Robinho can still appeal further to a higher court in Italy and he will be presumed innocence until all legal recourses have been exhausted.
It would however be unclear if he will effectively serve his sentence. Robinho is currently in Brazil and the Brazilian constitution does not allow the extradition of any natural born citizen of Brazil. However, rape is also a crime in Brazil and on that legal basis Robinho could face punishment at home.
In October, the Brazilian player had signed a contract with Santos, the club where he rose to stardom, but after protest from fans and NGO’s, and complaints from sponsors, the club suspended the contract with the 36-year-old.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1714372682labto1714372682ofdlr1714372682owedi1714372682sni@o1714372682fni1714372682