Category: Sports

Ex-Real Madrid Star, Robinho Fights Against His Jail Term In Brazil’s Supreme Court

Former Real Madrid and Manchester City forward, Robinho is making efforts not to serve his 9-year jail term in his home country, Brazil.

The lawyers of Robinho approached Brazil’s supreme court earlier today, March 21, to appeal that the 9-year sentence slammed on their client should be suspended.

What happened to Robinho?

After Robinho had played for Santos, Real Madrid, and Manchester City, he joined the Italian Serie A club, AC Milan, in 2010 and played for the club until 2015.

During that period, the 2005 World Soccer Young Player of the Year winner was allegedly involved in a gang rape at a Milan nightclub in 2013.

He was found guilty of the allegation and was sentenced to 9 years in prison in 2017 while he was playing for a Brazilian club, Clube Atlético Mineiro.

His lawyers appealed the judgment and they won the appeal in 2020. Unfortunately for him, the judgment was re-established in 2022 in the Italian Supreme Court.

But Robinho wasn’t sent to jail because he was in Brazil and the country doesn’t give room for its citizens to be extradited even with an international warrant of arrest.

Hence, Italian authorities had to write the Brazilian government to allow Robinho to serve his 9-year jail term in Brazil.

Earlier this month, the appeal court in Brazil ruled in favour of the request from Italy. But the lawyers of the 40-year-old retired footballer had to appeal the judgment at the Supreme Court on Thursday.

It is left to be seen whether Brazil’s supreme court will uphold the 9-year jail term of the 100-cap Brazil international.

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Top International Football Friendlies To Watch Out For In March 2024

 All major leagues in the world have put their campaigns on hold in honour of the FIFA international break in March, which allows room for national football teams’ friendlies.

Some mouthwatering international football friendlies have been lined up to make up for the unavailability of club football.

One of the biggest international friendlies to watch out for is the game between England and Brazil, which will kick off at Wembley Stadium at 8 p.m. on March 23.

Another big international friendly game to watch out for is the game between West African rivals the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Black Stars of Ghana.

These two countries are rivals on many fronts, especially in football, and March 22 is another opportunity for their rivalry to be revived.

Ghana stopped Nigeria from qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar thanks to an away goal rule, which means that the friendly, which will kick off at 5 p.m. on Friday, is more than just a friendly.

Below are the top friendly games to watch out for in March 2024:

Portugal vs. Sweden
Date: March 21, 2024
Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m.

Nigeria vs. Ghana
Date: March 22, 2024
Kick-off Time: 5:00 p.m.

Netherlands vs. Scotland
Date: March 22, 2024.
Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m.

England vs. Brazil
Date: March 23, 2024
Kick-off Time: 8:00 p.m.

France vs. Germany
Date: March 23, 2024
Kick-off Time: 9:00 p.m.

England vs. Belgium
Date: March 26, 2024
Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m.

Germany vs. the Netherlands
Date: March 26, 2024
Kick-off time: 8:45 p.m.

Spain vs. Brazil
Date: March 26, 2024
Kick-off Time: 9:30 p.m.

Mali vs. Nigeria
Date: March 26, 2024
Kick-off Time: 9:00 p.m.

The post Top International Football Friendlies To Watch Out For In March 2024 appeared first on Naija News.

Rape Conviction: Dani Alves Granted Bail Of €1 Million

Barcelona court granted bail to ex-Brazil defender Dani Alves on Wednesday, following the payment of a €1 million fee.

After being found guilty of sexual assault in February, Alves was given a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence, having already served more than a year of his term.

Following the appeal filed by his lawyer, Ines Guardiola, and a hearing on Tuesday, the 40-year-old has been released until a final resolution is reached on the appeal.

The requirement for Alves is to hand in his Spanish and Brazilian passports and to remain within Spain, agreeing to weekly court check-ins.

Additionally, he is required to comply with a restraining order that prohibits him from approaching within 1,000 meters of his victim, her residence, workplace, or any other location she frequents.

The ruling issued on Wednesday grants a three-day appeal period to the defense, the victim’s legal counsel, and the prosecution.

Naija News had earlier reported that the Brazilian star was sentenced on February 22, following a conviction for raping a young woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022.

The case against Alves was built on the testimony of the victim, who recounted her experience from behind a screen to maintain her anonymity.

She described a violent encounter in which Alves forcibly had sexual relations with her in the nightclub’s private bathroom, despite her pleas for him to stop.

This testimony painted a vivid picture of the victim’s “anguish and terror” during the incident.

The defence’s argument suggested that the victim had shown interest in Alves while they were dancing at the nightclub, insinuating a mutual “sexual tension.”

However, the court’s 61-page decision firmly stated that such an interpretation did not imply consent for any subsequent actions.

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UEFA Champions League Power Ranking Ahead Of Quarter-Final Stage

Champions League Fixtures: Two Teams Qaulify To Quarter-Final

Days after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final draw, the power ranking of the round was released which showed the team that is most likely to win the tournament.

Recall that the European Football governing body, UEFA announced the draw for the quarter-final round on Friday, March 15.

Following the draw, Rabona TV revealed the power ranking ahead of the round and projected that Manchester City have the biggest chance of winning the trophy.

If this is anything to go by, the reigning Premier League, UEFA Champions League, and FA Cup champions are expected to knock out Real Madrid who they have been paired to face in the quarter-final stage of the competition.

Recall that Real Madrid passed through the same route when they won the Champions League two seasons ago. Interestingly, Manchester City followed the same route to win the title for the first time in their history.

This also means that Manchester City are expected to defeat Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the semi-final stage of the campaign because they are expected to meet the said clubs en route to the Champions League final.

Below is the UEFA Champions League power ranking ahead of the quarter-final stage:

1. Man City

2. Real Madrid

3. Arsenal

4. Atletico Madrid

5. PSG

6. Bayern Munich

7. Barcelona

8. Borussia Dortmund

Note that the UEFA Champions League quarter-final stage will take place from April 9 (first legs) and April 16 (second legs).

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