Robinho was convicted of rape in 2017
Former Manchester City footballer Robinho is set to begin a nine-year prison sentence for rape following an unsuccessful appeal.
The Court of Cassation in Rome rejected an appeal from the former Brazil international and Ricardo Falco, relating to the incident, which occurred in 2013.
Robinho, 37, and Falco - a friend of the ex-Real Madrid man - were
convicted of rape in 2017 and given a nine-year jail sentence by the courts. However, their appeal process with the Italian courts has been ongoing since the sentence was handed down.
The Brazilian rejected claims that he took part in the gang rape of a 22-year-old Albanian woman at the Sio Cafe nightclub in Milan in January 2013.
However, the court in Rome have delivered a final decision which will see the sentence begin - with no room for further appeals.
Due to Brazilian extradition laws, it is likely that Italy will be able to request that both Robinho and Falco serve their sentences in a Brazilian jail.
In order for this to go through, Italy must now request the transfer of execution of the sentence to the Brazilian justice system and then wait for the Superior Court of Justice to ratify the sentence.
Brazilian outlet
UOL reported in October 2020 that the sentence had been upheld by the Italian Court of Appeal after the judge dismissed an appeal from the defence.
The appeal attempted to disqualify the victim on account of photos of her drinking alcohol on the night of the incident.
Brazil’s Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights, Damares Alves, told reporters: "Prison immediately, I have no more to say.
"There is still an appeal, but…What more do you want? Prison. No rapist can be applauded."
Robinho - who played for AC Milan at the time of the incident - and five other Brazilian men, were ruled to have raped the woman after providing her with excessive amounts of alcohol in a discotheque.
As part of the judgment in 2017, the court ordered the victim to receive €60,000 (£53,431.02) as compensation for her suffering.
Robinho continued his playing career until 2020, which was three years after after he was initially convicted.
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