Manchester United legend Anderson has been sentenced to prison for failing to pay child maintenance. The 36-year-old former midfielder faces jail time in Porto Alegre, Brazil, unless he settles the £45,000 debt.
The decision was made by a family court judge in Anderson’s home city last week but only became public on Tuesday, September 10. Anderson, who won the English Premier League four times with Manchester United after joining from Porto in July 2007, is set to serve his sentence at the Irmao Miguel Dario Prison.
The ex-Brazil international, who also played for Fiorentina and Internacional before retiring at age 31, has been ordered to spend 30 days in prison unless he clears the debt. He has the option to serve his sentence under a ‘semi-open’ regime, allowing him to work or study outside the prison during the day but requiring him to return at night, according to Brazilian news site GZH.
In 2019, Anderson faced controversy in Brazil for allegedly laundering £4.7 million through cryptocurrencies. He was named by Brazilian newspaper Globo as one of eight individuals under investigation for a scheme to divert funds from the state stock exchange. It remains unclear if the investigation is still active.
Known fully as Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira, Anderson was reported to be the father of four children in 2015 and nine at the start of this year.
Neither Anderson nor his lawyer has commented on the current situation.
