RONALDINHO is set to attend a futsal tournament in the Paraguayan prison where he is being held.
The 2002 World Cup winner has been warned he could spend up to six months behind bars after being accused of using a fake passport.
Ronaldinho in action against Paul Scholes during a futsal match in IndiaCredit: AP:Associated Press
The entrance of the National Police headquarters in Asuncion, where Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto Assis are being heldCredit: AFP or licensors
Ronaldinho and his brother Roberto de Assis Moreira have been banged up for allegedly trying to enter the country using false documents.
The 2005 Ballon d’Or winner is being kept at Asuncion prison after a court in Paraguay refused his bail and rejected appeals for house arrest.
But according to Brazilian newspaper Extra, the jail is now set to a host a futsal tournament.
The indoor football tournament will kick off next Monday, but the skilful Brazilian is not expected to dust off his boots.
Commissioner Blas Vera told Extra: “We don’t expect Ronaldinho to participate, but we would like him to attend.”
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It is purely a coincidence that the competition is set to take place just days after Ronaldinho’s arrival.
The tournament will see 194 prisoners play against each other after being divided into teams of ten.
Unlike the iconic movie Mean Machine, no prison officers will be involved.
Ronaldinho was renowned for his skills during his illustrious professional football career from 1998 until 2015.
And he showed no signs of slowing down when he played in the Indian Premier Futsal League in 2017.
The former Barcelona star bagged five goals on his Premier Futsal debut for Goa, but he quit after just two matches.
Brazilian veteran Ronaldinho smiled as he posed for a picture inside of the jailCredit: Twitter @repollera
Ronaldinho grinned as he was pictured inside of the jail wearing a purple vest, blue shorts and a pair of Nike sliders.
His lawyer, Adolfo Marin, insisted the 39-year-old had no idea he was doing anything wrong by trying to enter Paraguay with a dodgy passport.
Speaking to Brazilian newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, he said: “The courts have not taken into account the fact that Ronaldinho didn’t know he was committing a crime, because he didn’t understand he had been given false documents. He is stupid.”
Ronaldinho won the World Cup with a star-studded Brazil side in 2002Credit: Reuters
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
