Robinho fails in appeal against 9-year sentence for rape

Former Manchester City and Brazil striker Robinho has had his appeal against a nine-year conviction for his involvement in a gang rape rejected by the Milan Court of Appeal.

Robinho was initially convicted of the offence - which occurred following a trip to a nightclub in Milan in 2013 when he was plying his trade there - in November 2017, but he appealed the verdict immediately.

With his challenge unsuccessful his only remaining recourse is to take the case to the Supreme Court. In Italy, no sentence is passed until all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and Robinho has 45 days to issue his final challenge.

As reported by Globo (via the Daily Mail), the Court of Appeal ruled that the 38-year-old and his representatives had 'attempted to deceive investigators' by providing differing recollections on 'previously agreed facts'. 

Intercepted phone communications, in which Robinho said that the victim was drunk, were key evidence used to convict him back in 2017. During the appeal, his defence team tried to dismiss this, claiming that the messages had been incorrectly translated into Italian.

However, the court was unconvinced and upheld the convictions of both Robinho and his friend Richard Falco, who has also been convicted of taking part in the gang rape.

Prior to the verdict, Robinho was contracted to Brazilian side Santos, with whom he made his name before being snapped up by Real Madrid in 2005. However, it is understood that following the decision, he has been sacked by the club.

This likely spells the end of his playing career which saw him make 100 appearances for Brazil and take in highly-paid spells at Real, City, Milan and Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande.

Throughout proceedings Robinho has always denied any wrong doing, insisting that although he did make contact with the victim all acts were consensual.