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Robinho rape conviction clouds return to Santos

Robinho returns to Santos and sparks fierce debate in Brazil, after the forward's rape conviction in 2017. And Cruzeiro sinks without a trace

robinho rape conviction
Robinho: rape conviction not enough to scare off Santos. Photo: CBF via FP

Welcome back to another edition of the Brazil Sports newsletter. This week, Robinho returns to Santos — and sparks fierce debate in Brazil, after the forward’s rape conviction in 2017. And Cruzeiro, one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, are beginning to sink without a trace. Enjoy your read!

Talent always gets another chance

Under normal circumstances, it would be a reason for celebration. Robinho, who got his start at Santos before taking on European football and breaking into the Brazil national team, has now returned once again to his boyhood club. He will surrender the large salary he was earning at Turkish side Istanbul Başakşehir FK, taking a minimum wage at Santos until the end of the year. However, the public discourse is not about a prodigal son’s return, focusing instead on events that occurred in Milan in 2013.

  • In October 2014, Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport published revelations of Robinho’s involvement in the alleged gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman at a Milanese nightclub, during his spell playing for AC Milan.

The case. Three years later, while Robinho was back in Brazil playing for Atlético-MG, the player was tried in absentia and was found guilty, with Italian courts sentencing him to nine years in prison. Due to Italy’s lengthy appeals process — not too dissimilar to what is seen in Brazil — the sentence is pending and the player is not a fugitive from justice.

The debate. Pundits and fans have rushed to condemn Santos for resigning Robinho, questioning the message transmitted by employing an individual convicted of rape, and lauding him as a hero. By and large, however, Santos supporters and the club itself have defended Robinho’s reputation, claiming his innocence and celebrating the return of a fans’ favorite.

Quandary. In previous editions of this Brazil Sports newsletter, we have assessed the ethical questions behind football clubs employing players who had been convicted of crimes. The example of the time was Bruno Fernandes, once the most talented goalkeeper in Brazil and national champion with Flamengo, who was sentenced to...

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