Former Brazilian forward Robinho has been convicted of rape and sentenced to nine years in prison by an Italian court. A Brazilian court will decide today whether he will receive the sentence in Brazil.
An Italian court sentenced Robinho to nine years in prison in 2017. Italy approved the penalty in 2022 and urged the Brazilian government to implement it. Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice will review whether Robinho can be punished. The former Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Manchester City footballer has pleaded not guilty. “I hope I can speak in Brazil like I didn’t have there (in Italy),” Robinio, 40, told Brazilian network TV Record last Sunday.
While playing for Italian club AC Milan in 2013, Robinho was accused of gang-raping an Albanian woman in a nightclub in Milan. The woman had gone to celebrate her 23rd birthday. And she was accused of raping six people; Robin was one of them.
Robinho is living freely in Brazil. Italy’s highest court upheld the verdict against him. The Italian consuls then issued an international arrest warrant against Robinio. Brazil does not extradite its citizens to the judicial authorities of a foreign country after a crime has been committed. ย It was said in Italy that Robinho’s punishment should be carried out in Brazil. Last Sunday, Robinio called Italy’s judicial system “racist.”.
Robinio told TV Record that everything he did with the woman was consensual: “It was mutual consent.” I never denied it. I could refuse. My DNA was not found. But I’m not a liar. I played in Italy for four years and was tired of seeing the racism there. People who have done nothing against apartheid have convicted me.’
Robinho could remain free even if the Brazilian judicial system decides against him. Because there is an appeal to the Supreme Court of Brazil. Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he hoped Robinho would “serve out” his sentence on Brazilian soil.
The Brazilian media reported that magistrates are expected to uphold Italy’s request.
Brazilian football is being criticized by Robinho and Dani Alves. Brazilian football is considered to have failed to prevent violence against women. The Spanish court sentenced former Brazilian rightback Dani Alvez to four and a half years in prison last February for the crime of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Alvez’s former club, and his teammates did not mince words.
source: AFP
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