Former Brazilian international Ronaldinho Gaucho was ordered to remain in jail in Paraguay on Saturday after a judge ruled him a flight risk.

The ex-Barcelona forward was arrested on Friday for attempting to enter Paraguay with a false passport two days earlier and spent Friday night in a police cell along with his brother and business manager Roberto Assis.

The pair asked to be released into house arrest but that was rejected by the judge, who also dismissed Assis’s claims to have a heart problem because he showed no proof.

Judge Clara Ruiz Diaz said their alleged offence was a "serious one against the interests of the Paraguayan state".

Because the pair posed a flight risk they must remain in custody, she added.

Under Paraguayan law, officials now have six months to complete their investigation but Ronaldinho’s lawyers, who called the decision "incredible," are expected to present an appeal in the coming days.

"He (Ronaldinho) doesn’t understand what’s going on," Tarek Tuma told reporters.

Saturday's courtroom drama came after an astonishing four days that began on Wednesday when the duo attempted to enter Paraguay with doctored passports.

They were detained but a prosecutor who believed they were tricked into taking the fake documents recommended they be released after receiving an alternative punishment such as paying a fine to charity.

A judge, though, rejected that idea late on Friday and shortly afterwards the pair were arrested.

A police official told local media the pair had been placed in a cell with one other inmate. They were given soap, cushions and repellent to protect against mosquitoes.

Although workers at the facility took selfies with the famous detainee, officials said the Brazilians did not receive any preferential treatment.

Paraguayan television showed the two men arriving in court in handcuffs at around noon local time on Saturday.

The brothers were invited to Paraguay by a local casino owner and had arrived on Wednesday to take part in a soccer clinic for children and a book launch.

Although he last played professionally in 2015, Ronaldinho, who also represented Brazilian clubs Atletico Mineiro, Flamengo and Fluminense, is still hugely popular with global football fans for his skills and showmanship.

The 39-year-old was named FIFA world player of the year in 2004 and 2005 and won the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006.

https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20U0X3?__twitter_impression=true

Handcuffed Ronaldinho and his brother arriving Courthouse in Asunción


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlgG8bIYl8E

Brazilians are talented when it comes to football.

But you'll hardly see them last in football entertainment industry.

Just a few lasted!

Today, March 08 marks the 15th year anniversary of this....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZr28Ca_fo

How the mighty are fallen!

Hmmm.... The almighty Legendiho

Wow a hole ronaldino

Abeg o.. make dem use connection bring am out o..

What is hemoglobin for in Paraguay sef

Like play, like play, dis guy go go jail las las

He will be freed.

Just look at the serial numbers of the two passports...Too related.

Why would he use a fake passport in the first place..

Ronaldinho of all people, i pity him ..

water don pass Gaari

I don't know what to say

Ha! A whole Daddydinho in handcuffs? My favorite player of all time...Nawa oh

He thought he enter a country like Nigeria.


Why is he using that cloth to cover the handcuff...

Bleep!!

pirodoshit:
Abeg o.. make dem use connection bring am out o..

So you think everywhere is like your shithole Nigeria?!

This is mad ooo

That's what we call functional system you can't easily get around it I'm sure that's how they've been treating people who commit similar offence not that they are harsh on ronaldinho

I'm sure if it's Nigeria, with his fake passport he will be getting high class police and army protection


Most of the Chinese and Indian (especially the ones that threat there staff like shit) has no functional passport in Nigeria

Busolababby1:
This is ludicrous

and ambiguous

This guy don enter am!

Afonja self,,
I just weak

He tried to enter Paraguay with a Fake passport. That's to say there's OIL There


If you know, you know.

Chaii....I just don't understand...which one be fake passport.. that dude is super rich...I can sense set-up from an angle...how much is passport that he can't afford it.

If you need Pure Original Honey... Whatsapp/Call 081 0166 6771 Let's talk abt it... Na my mind wey I talk sha...Thanks and Happy Sunday to you all

oshozondii:
Today, March 08 marks the 15th year anniversary of this....

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GMZr28Ca_f

How time flies. But he has many more spectacular goals than this

Damn Ronaldinho and Roberto Carlos that time for ps2

This is a case of from grace to grass..

And some brainless fellows were attacking me the other, saying the whole passport issue was misunderstanding and not a fake passport

What an idiot ..

Did you know that ronaldinho is the most interesting footballer to watch. He once received a 5 minutes ovation at the bernabeau, He is the greatest thing to come out of the ghetto in Brazil. He never loses his smile, even if these ones are sad ones.