Behind The Bars: Famous Soccer Players Who Have Served Time In Jail | 2024

Soccer players, often admired globally, are not exempt from making regrettable choices that can land them in jail.

Some people think that pro footballers can do whatever they want without facing the consequences of the law.

It might seem like they always get off easy when they get into legal trouble.

However, just like they get punished with yellow and red cards on the field, soccer players are not above the law outside the game either. There have been cases where some players got caught breaking the law and had to face the consequences for their actions.

And, once a football player serves time and returns to the field, the mark on their record doesn’t just vanish.

The societal impact of a soccer star breaking the law is considerable due to the high regard in which they are held. If a player violates legal rules, the media quickly turns its spotlight on them.

In the age of social media, crimes involving soccer players undergo intense scrutiny. Even the most well-off players can see their reputations seriously damaged by these new perspectives.

While it’s not unusual for footballers, known for their fiery personalities, to deal with legal problems, the focus here extends beyond simple misbehavior to outright criminality.

These legal issues don’t discriminate based on country, team, or age, affecting both rising talents and seasoned superstars.

Whether resulting from unfortunate decisions or more severe offenses, the reasons behind players’ run-ins with the law are varied.

Today, we shed light on 20 soccer players who found themselves in legal trouble, serving jail sentences ranging from months to years.

1. Bruno Fernandes de Souza

Despite being a Brazilian Serie A winner with Flamengo, Bruno Fernandes became infamous for committing one of the most heinous crimes.

He was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after being charged with murder, kidnapping, hiding a body, forming a criminal gang (conspiracy), and corrupting minors in July 2010.

He was convicted of organizing the murder of his lover, Eliza Samudio, and sentenced to jail.

Four months before the crime, Eliza, who had a child with Bruno, demanded substantial alimony, threatening to reveal their relationship to Bruno’s wife if he refused.

Faced with this predicament, Bruno Fernandes chose an unthinkable solution—plotting Eliza’s murder.

He enlisted the help of friends who deceitfully brought Eliza to a hotel room where she was killed, and her remains were fed to his rottweilers.

The investigation quickly focused on the attackers, leading to Bruno Fernandes being sentenced to 22 years in prison on March 8, 2013. His accomplices received shorter terms.

In a surprising turn of events, Bruno was granted amnesty just four years later in February 2017. He accepted a contract offer from Boa and returned to professional football briefly.

However, public outrage led to his denial of early release in April of the same year, resulting in his return to jail. The case remains a disturbing chapter in the intersection of sports and crime.

In July 2019, Bruno was released from prison to participate in a “semi-open” program for the remainder of his sentence.

This allowed him to work or train during the day while being under house arrest at night.

2. Rene Higuita

Rene, a former Colombian goalkeeper, stands out among the soccer players who went to jail.

In 1993, he was imprisoned for seven months in Bogota for his involvement in a kidnapping-for-profit scheme, where he collected payment for his services.

Despite being widely recognized in the football world for his remarkable scorpion kick clearance during a match between England and Colombia, Higuita became entangled in some questionable activities in the 90s.

During that time, Higuita’s role extended beyond the pitch, as he found himself mediating between notorious drug lords Pablo Escobar and Carlos Molina.

His task was to deliver ransom money for the release of Molina’s daughter.

Following his legal troubles, Rene Higuita transitioned to a coaching role, serving as a goalkeeping coach at the UAE club Al-Nassr from 2012 to 2016. In 2017, he returned to Atletico Nacional, continuing his career as a goalkeeping coach.

3. Lee Hughes

Lee Hughes is among the footballers who killed someone, his life took a tragic turn when he was involved in a fatal incident in 2004 while driving his £100,000 Mercedes.

The former West Bromwich Albion striker, playing for Stourport Swifts at the time, faced a drastic change in his life as he was sentenced to three years in prison for causing death due to reckless driving.

In a swift six-day trial, the jury took only 90 minutes to find him guilty of ramming his supercharged Mercedes into another car, resulting in the death of a father of four. Despite being initially sentenced to six years in jail, Lee was released after serving three years.

He had pleaded guilty to charges of not reporting the accident and failing to stop after the crash. The incident marked a tragic chapter in the footballer’s life, altering his trajectory both personally and professionally.

4. Luke McCormick

In 2008, Luke McCormick faced a severe legal consequence when he pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence.

The incident involved a road collision that claimed the lives of two individuals, and McCormick was found to have excess alcohol in his blood while driving without insurance.

The repercussions extended to his professional life as well.

Plymouth Argyle terminated the goalkeeper’s contract while he served his sentence in HMP Ranby, Channings Wood, and Leyhill. McCormick remained in prison until his release in 2012.

The incident not only marked a tragic event on the road but also had a significant impact on McCormick’s football career and personal life.

5. Adam Johnson

In 2010, Adam Johnson joined Manchester City and faced initial challenges before eventually winning the Premier League and FA Cup with the team.

Despite struggling to secure a regular spot in the star-studded City lineup, he moved to Sunderland in 2012.

His time at Sunderland took a dark turn in 2016 when he was arrested by the police on charges of pedophilia. A year earlier, Johnson had attempted to engage in inappropriate conduct with a 15-year-old Sunderland fan through social media.

This disturbing incident unfolded while his wife was pregnant.

Despite legal troubles, Johnson was temporarily released on bail, and his coach at Sunderland, Sam Allardyce, decided to bring him back for another season.

However, the footballer’s actions had serious consequences. He was eventually sentenced to six years in prison, enduring abuse and harassment from fellow inmates during his incarceration.

Today, Adam Johnson is a free man, having completed his sentence and faced the repercussions of his actions.

Can Footballers Smoke Weed? Explained

6. Yuri Sevidov

Yuri Sevidov, the son of the famous football player and coach Alexander Sevidov, was a talented forward.

He played for Spartak at a young age, scoring 71 goals in 146 matches. In 1964, he represented the USSR in the Olympics and scored in the tournament held in Tokyo.

Unfortunately, in 1965, Sevidov was involved in a car accident that led to the death of Academician Dmitry Ryabchikov.

Despite claiming he didn’t see the scientist, Sevidov received a 10-year prison sentence and lost his master of sports title. After serving four years, he played for various football clubs.

Later in life, Sevidov became a coach for smaller clubs, including FC Shinnik Yaroslavl and FC Legion Dynamo Makhachkala.

His story is a mix of sporting success, a tragic incident, and a journey of redemption in the world of football coaching.

7. Ruben Semedo

Ruben Semedo’s legal troubles have been marked by a series of serious incidents.

In January 2018, he faced trial for an altercation in a Valencia bar the previous November, where he allegedly brandished a pistol and made threats while nursing an injury.

Subsequently, he was arrested again in February for a separate incident, accused of tying up and torturing a man in his home alongside two others, followed by a burglary at the victim’s house.

For the latter incident, Semedo was charged with attempted murder and placed in preventive detention.

Initially released on bail in July 2018 after paying €30,000, Semedo later confessed two years later to charges of kidnap, robbery, wounding, and illegal firearm possession. He was fined €46,000 and banned from entering Spain for eight years.

In August 2021, Semedo faced another arrest in Athens following a gang rape allegation by a 17-year-old teenager after a night out in Oropos.

A second man, accused of leading the girl to Semedo’s house where the alleged actions took place, was also arrested. Semedo was released from custody days later after paying a €10,000 bond.

8. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho, the Ballon d’Or winner, entrusted the management of his wealth to his brother Roberto.

While Roberto handled Ronaldinho’s financial affairs throughout his career, his investment decisions were not always sound and occasionally ventured into unlawful activities.

One such misstep occurred when Roberto invested in a cane-processing factory near a protected lake, demonstrating a lack of business acumen.

This led to a significant fine for the brothers, who chose not to pay.

Consequently, Ronaldinho faced the confiscation of some of his possessions, and his passport was canceled.

On March 5, 2020, both Ronaldinho and Roberto were detained at the Paraguayan airport during a passport check. It was discovered that they were attempting to enter the neighboring nation using falsified documents.

As a result, they were detained pending the outcome of the investigation.

While in jail, the legendary Barcelona player made the most of the situation. The prison organized a futsal tournament in his honor, featuring other inmates, and Ronaldinho’s team emerged victorious with an 11-2 score.

Ronaldinho and his brother were eventually released from jail on August 25, 2020, after paying a fine of $90,000 and reaching

9. Marlon King

Jamaican striker Marlon King has a notorious criminal record in football, with convictions for 14 crimes including theft, fraud, speeding, DUI, and violence.

In 2002, he received an 18-month prison sentence for possessing a stolen BMW, later reduced to five months.

In 2009, he got another 18-month jail term for assaulting a college student, leading to the termination of his contract with Wigan.

In 2014, he faced an 18-month jail term and a three-year driving ban for reckless driving.

As of February 2022, he is retired and unaffiliated with any football team since leaving Sheffield United in 2014.

10. George Best

George Best, the legendary Manchester United player, faced a tumultuous period in 1984 when he was jailed for 12 weeks at Ford Open Prison. The charges included drink-driving, assaulting a police officer, and failing to answer bail.

This meant spending Christmas in jail that year.

Despite being a product of Manchester United’s renowned academy, Best struggled with alcoholism throughout his life.

In 2002, Best underwent a liver transplant, a consequence of his long-standing struggles with alcohol.

Unfortunately, even after this significant medical intervention, he continued to grapple with alcoholism, persistently facing challenges in maintaining sobriety.

George Best’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of addiction, even for those celebrated in the world of sports.

We Bribed Referee And Injected Psychotropic Drug In PSG’s Plastic Bottles

11. Ian Wright

Ian Wright almost ruined his football career before going pro because he got jailed in 1982.

Despite this setback, he played for Crystal Palace for six years and Arsenal for seven. Known for being one of the footballers who went to jail, Wright often talks about his time behind bars on TV and radio.

He had a tough childhood and ended up in Chelmsford Prison at 19 for two weeks in 1982, all because he didn’t pay insurance or fines for his cars. Surprisingly, he says this short time in prison changed him for the better.

12. Tony Adams

Tony spent his entire football career at Arsenal, playing over 500 games and winning 13 trophies.

Despite his success on the field, his journey was marred by struggles with alcoholism during a time when it was common in English football. In the 1980s, Tony fell and suffered a serious head injury due to his drinking.

In 1991, he was arrested for driving under the influence and served four months in prison. Recognizing his problem in 1996, Tony sought help and underwent treatment to overcome alcoholism.

After conquering his addiction, he wrote a book about his experience, revealing a battle with alcohol that began at the age of 20.

Tony went on to establish the Sporting Chance Clinic in 2000, a facility dedicated to helping others overcome addiction.

Beyond his achievements in football, Tony Adams has become an advocate for recovery and rehabilitation in the sports community.

13. Joey Barton

Joey Barton, known for his on-field controversies, faced legal troubles away from the pitch as well.

The English international has served prison sentences twice for violent charges.

In 2007, during his time with Newcastle, Barton was involved in a drunken incident at a McDonald’s in Liverpool. Alongside his brother and a friend, he initiated a fight that left one person unconscious and another teenager losing multiple teeth.

The first prison sentence occurred when Barton drove his car into a pedestrian in Liverpool City Centre.

He was convicted of assault, serving 77 days in prison and receiving a four-month football suspension for admitting to assaulting his former Manchester City teammate, Ousmane Dabo.

Barton’s off-field behavior has, at times, overshadowed his contributions on the football field.

Barton currently serves as the manager of the Bristol Rovers and is one of the most popular footballers who have served in prison and whose life has been unfortunately marked by numerous controversies.

14. Duncan Ferguson

Duncan Ferguson, currently managing Forest Green Rovers in EFL League One, was a top striker in Scottish football.

Before his coaching role, he played for notable clubs like Dundee United, Rangers, Everton, and Newcastle United.

During his transfer from Rangers to Everton, Ferguson faced a controversy. In a match against Raith Rovers on April 16, 1994, he headbutted John McStay, leading to an on-field caution and a later 44-day jail sentence for assault.

While in prison, Ferguson received support letters from fans, including a young Everton supporter named Wayne Rooney. This incident added a unique twist to the football stories of both Duncan Ferguson and Wayne Rooney.

15. Benjamin Mendy

Five women accused Benjamin Mendy of sexual assault in the panic rooms of his secluded Cheshire mansion between October 11, 2020, and August 2021.

Initially set to serve his sentence at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool, he was later moved to the high-security HMP Manchester before Christmas of 2021 for his safety.

Despite denying all allegations, Mendy was granted bail on January 22, 2022. However, a new accuser came forward, resulting in an additional charge.

During his legal proceedings, Mendy experienced incarceration both at Altcourse prison in Liverpool and HMP Manchester, commonly known as Strangeways.

Following a five-month trial, the Manchester City player was cleared of six sexual violation cases. Despite being declared innocent, Mendy found himself one of the most disgraced figures in football history.

5 Footballers Who Struggled With Alcohol And Drugs

16. Jermaine Pennant

In 1999, Arsenal made headlines by paying £2 million for 16-year-old Jermaine Pennant, making him the world’s most expensive teenage footballer at the time.

Despite the high expectations, Pennant initially struggled to meet them, playing just over a dozen games for Arsenal in the following six years.

However, in 2005, at the age of 21, his life took a different turn when he was imprisoned for driving under the influence and transferred for a three-year term.

After a month in jail, Jermaine regained his freedom but had to wear an electronic tag for an extended period.

This made him the first player in Premier League history to play while wearing an electronic tag.

17. Eduard Streltsov

18. Godwin Okpara

The story of Godwin Okpara, a former player for Paris Saint-Germain, is among the most shocking on this roster of football ex-convicts.

In 2007, the Nigerian was handed a thirteen-year prison sentence for the abhorrent acts of raping, torturing, and enslaving his teenage adopted daughter, Tina.

According to French officials, Okpara brought the young girl to Europe under the pretense of offering her a better life in the French colony.

Tragically, she was subjected to two years of repeated sexual abuse at the hands of her father.

Rather than enjoying the privileges one might expect from having a wealthy father, the victim was relegated to the role of a babysitter for the footballer’s four children.

Tina’s harrowing ordeal began at the age of 15 in 2003, just two years after she had relocated to France at the age of 12 in 2001 (some newspapers mention 13, but Tina affirmed she was 12 in an interview).

This cycle of abuse persisted until February 2005 when Linda, Okpara’s wife, uncovered the horrifying truth and unleashed her anger on the young girl.

In a cruel parallel, Linda, like her husband, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for physically torturing and beating the child, even going so far as to shave her head.

Upon completing his sentence, the former Strasbourg player chose to move to Lagos, Nigeria

19. Nile Ranger

In 2017, Ranger, a former striker for Newcastle United, Swindon Town, and Southend United, was handed an eight-month prison sentence after confessing to engaging in online banking fraud.

The promising young talent, once with a bright future at Newcastle, admitted to charges of conspiracy to defraud by illicitly obtaining bank details and transferring £2,090 in February 2015.

Unfortunately, Ranger’s potential was overshadowed by a history of legal troubles.

Even in his youth, he faced imprisonment for street robbery, later being convicted of assaulting police officers and fined for criminal damage. Despite early promise, Ranger struggled to stay on the straight and narrow path.

20. Nizar Trabelsi

Trabelsi’s brief season with Fortuna Dusseldorf in Germany became a notable chapter in his career.

Despite making just one league appearance and scoring a goal, his accomplishments on the pitch were overshadowed by his arrest immediately after the match.

Trabelsi faced charges related to connections with Al-Qa’ida and was convicted for plotting an attack against American soldiers at a Belgian airbase.

He was also suspected of involvement in the Paris Embassy Terrorist Plot, where he was allegedly intended to be the suicide bomber.

In 2003, Trabelsi was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Other Footballers Who Served Jail Time

• Souleymane Diawara
• Cyril Yapi
• Shayne Bradley
• Soufiane Kone
• Frank Rincon
• Troy Deeney
• Stig Tofting

How Common Is Doping In Soccer/Football?