The Superior Tribunal de Justiça rejected an appeal by former footballer Robinho to have his rape conviction reviewed by the Supreme Federal Court on July 27, 2026 [1].
This decision prevents the defendant from escalating his legal challenge to Brazil's highest court, ensuring that the execution of his sentence remains active within the Brazilian prison system.
Minister Luis Felipe Salomão issued the ruling, which maintains the order for Robinho to serve the sentence in a São Paulo prison [1], [2]. The legal battle stems from a conviction in Italy for a crime that took place in 2013 [1].
Robinho's defense team sought to have the case moved to the Supreme Federal Court by arguing that there were constitutional violations. The defense specifically requested the removal of the "hedonic" classification, a designation for particularly heinous crimes, from the conviction [1], [3]. However, the STJ found no legal basis to refer the matter to the higher court and rejected the request [1].
The former player has been in custody since March 2026 [5]. This followed a previous STJ order in April 2026 that mandated the immediate start of his sentence execution [4]. He was taken into custody one day after that April 2026 decision was rendered [4].
The ruling reinforces the Brazilian judiciary's stance on the validity of the foreign sentence and the legality of its enforcement on Brazilian soil [2]. By blocking the path to the Supreme Federal Court, the STJ has effectively closed a primary legal avenue for Robinho to avoid further imprisonment in Brazil [1].
“The Superior Tribunal de Justiça rejected an appeal by former footballer Robinho to have his rape conviction reviewed by the Supreme Federal Court.”
This ruling signifies a critical exhaustion of legal remedies for Robinho. By denying the appeal to the Supreme Federal Court, the STJ has affirmed that the Italian conviction is enforceable under Brazilian law and that the procedural requirements for imprisonment have been met. It sets a precedent for how Brazil handles the execution of foreign criminal sentences for its citizens.
