RONALDINHO is the latest high-profile footballer spending time behind bars.
The Brazilian legend is holed up in a Paraguayan jail for passport fraud, and faces six months inside.
Ronaldinho is currently in a Paraguayan jailCredit: Twitter @RaphaelSibilla
Ronaldinho stands accused of passport fraud and faces six months insideCredit: AP:Associated Press
And the ex-Barcelona star isn’t the first player to hear the rattle of the jailer’s key.
ADAM JOHNSON
In March 2015, Johnson was arrested and charged with sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
At the start of his trial in February 2016 he was earning £60,000 a week playing for the Sunderland.
He was finally sacked by the club after he pleaded guilty to grooming and sexual activity with a child. Johnson admitted two of the charges, but denied others.
After a trial he was found guilty of sexual activity with the child in March 2016. He was cleared of one charge relating to another alleged sexual act.
Jailing the shamed star for six years, judge Jonathan Rose told him he had abused a position of trust and caused his victim “severe psychological harm”.
Johnson was freed from prison on March 22 after serving half of his six-year sentence for child sex offences.
However, the 32-years-old’s footballing career remains efffectively over as no clubs want to employ the shamed winger.
Adam Johnson was charged for having sex with a 15-year-old girlCredit: Getty Images – Getty
IAN WRIGHT
Before the Arsenal legend made it as a pro, he was admittedly a bit of a tearaway.
The Match of the Day pundit spent two weeks in a prison in Chelmsford for driving without a licence.
And the time inside helped him focus his efforts into becoming a footballer.
“I did say I would never ever come to a place like that again. I knew i had to start doing the straight and narrow right thing,” he told Good Morning Britain.
“That was it.”
Wright went on to become a Gunners legend, breaking the Arsenal goalscoring record, before it was beaten by Thierry Henry.
Before Ian Wright became a Gunners legend he spent two weeks in a Chelmsford jailCredit: Rex Features
CHED EVANS
In April 2012, the Sheffield United and Wales striker was found guilty of raping a 19-year-old woman at a hotel in Rhyl in May 2011.
He was sentenced to five years in jail but was released on licence in October 2014 while continuing to protest his innocence.
Evans struggled to resume his career with clubs such as Sheffield United, Oldham Athletic and Grimsby Town all backing out of proposed moves for the striker largely due to public pressure and fears of a backlash.
His case was referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission based on “new material which was not considered by the jury at trial”.
In March 2016, his case was heard by the appeal court which eventually quashed his conviction the following month.
At his retrial in October 2016, Evans was found not guilty.
He resumed his footballing career in 2016, first playing for Chesterfield, before re-signing for Sheffield United.
Evans is currently on loan at Fleetwood Town.
Ched Evans had his rape conviction quashed and was found not guilty in his retrialCredit: PA:Press Association
LEE HUGHES
In 2004, the former West Bromwich Albion striker was jailed for six years for causing the death of father-of-four Douglas Graham by dangerous driving.
Hughes served three years in Featherstone Prison, in Staffordshire.
He resumed his career in 2007 at clubs including Oldham Athletic and Notts County.
Hughes currently plays non-league football with Grantham Town, at the age of 43.
Lee Hughes was sentenced to six years after being found guilty of killing a father-of-fourCredit: PA:Press Association
LUKE MCCORMICK
The former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper was jailed for seven years and four months in 2008 for killing Arron Peak, ten, and his brother Ben, eight.
He fell asleep at the wheel while returning home drunk from a teammate’s wedding.
The goalie has turned his life around since his release in 2012.
After stints at Truro City and Oxford United he re-signed for Plymouth Argyle where he spent five seasons and was made club captain in 2014.
He currently plays for Swindon Town.
Lee McCormick was also jailed for drink-driving, after killing two boysCredit: PA:Press Association
TONY ADAMS
The former Arsenal and England defender was sentenced to four months in jail after he crashed his car into a wall in Essex while drunk in 1990.
Adams – who is the only man to captain league winning sides in three different decades – has become one of the UK’s most high profile recovering alcoholics.
After winning his battle with booze, he went on to captain England at major tournaments and won two league and cup doubles under the stewardship of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Adams also founded the Sporting Chance clinic to help athletes deal with drink, drug and gambling addiction.
Tony Adams beat his problems with booze and enjoyed a glittering career with ArsenalCredit: Getty – Contributor
JERMAINE PENNANT
The Arsenal winger was sentenced to three months in jail for drink-driving and driving while disqualified in 2005.
After his release, he became one of the first players to play while wearing an electronic tag.
He continued to enjoy a high profile career at Liverpool, Real Zaragoza and Stoke City among others.
Later, Pennant became a reality TV star – appearing on Celebrity Big Brother.
Jermaine Pennant found fame on Celebrity Big Brother after time behind barsCredit: Rex Features
DUNCAN FERGUSON
The Rangers striker was jailed for three months for head-butting Raith Rovers defender John McStay in April 1994.
He was the first player to be jailed for an on-pitch offence and served 44
days in Glasgow’s notorious Barlinnie prison.
Ferguson eventually moved to England where he became a club legend at Everton while also having two seasons at Newcastle United.
Duncan Ferguson was jailed for this headbutt on Raith Rovers’ John McStay at Ibrox in 1994
MARLON KING
Perhaps the most prolific criminal on the list is ex-Birmingham City star King.
The striker has been given sentences for offences including dangerous driving, assaulting a woman and handling a stolen car.
In 2014 King was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to a charge of dangerous driving after a crash left another motorist injured.
The court heard that King had been eating an ice cream at the wheel of his Porsche when he caused a three-car pile-up on the A46 in Nottinghamshire.
Marlon King was convicted of sexually assaulting a woman in 2008Credit: AFP – Getty
In 2008 he was convicted of sexually assaulting and breaking the nose of a woman in London.
And in 2002 he was given an 18-month prison sentence for handling a stolen car while playing for Gillingham.
Incredibly, King’s ability to score goals in the Championship meant he enjoyed stints at Wigan, Coventry, Birmingham and Sheffield United despite his conviction for sexual assault.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
