Atletico Miniero forward Robinho has been handed a nine-year prison sentence after he was found guilty of rape in a Milanese disco four years ago (2013).

The former Manchester City and Real Madrid star was playing for Italian side AC Milan when the incident happened on January 22, 2013.

According to a Milan Tribunal on Thursday evening, Robinho, 33, and five other men were guilty of gang-raping a 22-year-old Albanian woman.

The sentence can however be appealed meaning that no sentence will be enforced until a verdict has been made on the expected appeal.

It is also important to point out that the Italian justice system includes several levels of appeal.