In the wake of rape charges against former Brazilian teammates Dani Alves and Robinho, Felipe Melo has expressed unequivocal condemnation of their actions, emphasizing the importance of accountability and respect for all individuals.
Both Alves and Robinho face significant legal consequences following their recent legal troubles, tarnishing their once-glowing reputations and potentially leading to prison sentences.
While Alves is currently appealing his conviction and secured temporary release on bail, Robinho faces a daunting nine-year prison term for his involvement in a 2013 gang rape case.
Reflecting on the severity of the situation, Melo, a seasoned footballer currently plying his trade for Fluminense in Brazil, has voiced his outrage, particularly as a father with a teenage daughter.
He underscored the fundamental need to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, irrespective of gender, and stressed the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.
With a career spanning clubs like Juventus, Galatasaray, and Inter Milan, Melo’s words carry weight as he addressed the disgraceful conduct of his former colleagues.
“I have a 15-year-old daughter,” Melo told Globo Sporte.
“If they [Alves and Robinho] had done that with my daughter, I don’t think I would be here to give this interview.
“I believe we must respect other human beings, we must respect women, we must respect men. They have to pay for what they did. And let it serve as a lesson so that others do not do it. This is very serious.”