Former Guangzhou Evergrande forward Robinho has been sentenced by an Italian court to nine years in prison for his part in a 2013 gang rape.
According to BBC Sport, the sexual assault was committed by the Brazilian footballer and five other Brazilians in Milan. The victim was a 22-year-old Albanian woman who the men plied with booze at a nightclub.
Robinho spent five years with AC Milan, leaving the team in 2015 while on loan to Santos FC. He joined Evergrande in July 2015 (at the time managed by fellow countryman Big Phil Scolari) on a six-month contract, after which he returned to Brazil.
The 33-year-old convicted rapist pleaded not guilty through his lawyer and was not present in the courtroom when the verdict was read. The sentence is currently on hold while appeal proceedings are completed.
“He has already defended himself against the charges, stating that he did not participate in the episode,” reads a post on Robinho’s Instagram page. “All legal steps are already being taken regarding this decision.”
[Cover image via Getty Images h/t Daily Mail]
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