The Case: The former Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan forward was accused of participating in a gang sexual assault of a woman in a Milan nightclub in 2013.
Legal Outcome: An Italian court sentenced Robinho in absentia to nine years in prison in 2017, a conviction upheld by Italy’s highest court in 2022. Because Brazil does not extradite its nationals, Italian authorities requested that he serve the penalty locally. In March 2024, Brazil’s High Court ruled that Robinho must serve his nine-year sentence in a Brazilian penitentiary, where he was subsequently taken into custody.
Summary & Case Details: Robson de Souza, famously known as Robinho, emerged in the early 2000s as one of Brazil’s brightest talent prospects before embarking on high-value transfers to elite European sides, including Real Madrid, Manchester City, and AC Milan. However, his international career collapsed under the weight of a severe legal battle following an incident at a Milan nightspot in January 2013, where he and several companions were accused of gang-assaulting an intoxicated woman. Following an investigation, Italian prosecutors indicted Robinho, resulting in a 2017 conviction that sentenced him to nine years in prison. Robinho vigorously denied the accusations during multiple appeals, but Italy’s highest court fully upheld the guilty verdict in 2022. Because the Brazilian constitution explicitly prevents the extradition of its own native-born citizens to foreign jurisdictions, the former forward remained free inside Brazil for several years while Italian authorities sought international enforcement. The legal impasse reached its conclusion in March 2024, when Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice validated the Italian conviction, agreeing to enforce the sentence domestically. Federal police subsequently took him into custody to begin serving his multi-year prison sentence, bringing closure to an international legal conflict.
For the latest updates and offender details, follow us on the Offender Register Facebook Page. If you or anyone you know has been affected by the individuals highlighted on this website, please report them to the Police on 101 (999 in an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details on how to report a crime. You can also report to Crimestoppers if you wish to remain completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.