Ex-Man City and Everton star Jô has been arrested at an airport for allegedly failing to pay child support.
The striker, whose full name is João Alves de Assis Silva, was nabbed yesterday (12 Jun) by Federal Police.
Jô, who last played for fourth-tier Brazilian side Itabirito, was approached as he was about to board a flight.
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The 38-year-old was taken from the scene at São Paulo International Airport to a police station in Guarulhos, Brazil.
Jô played for City between 2008 and 2011 playing 21 games and scoring three goals.
He signed for £18m from CSKA Moscow.
The striker had two loan spells at fellow Premier League side the Toffees where he bagged five goals in 27 matches.
It is not the first time the former Brazil international – with 23 caps – has been arrested for allegedly failing to pay child support.
The São Paulo-born ace was nabbed in May last year just before a match between Amazonas and Ponte Preta in Brazil’s Série B league.
He was released the next day after his defence team submitted a request, which was approved by a court.
Jô’s latest arrest came after he reportedly fell behind on child support payments for at least one of his eight children.
His lawyer, Guilherme Motai, told local media: “We were aware of the warrant due to the failure to pay child support.
“That failure stems from a financial situation that’s unrealistic – it doesn’t reflect the ex-player’s current reality.
“He’s not shirking his responsibilities, but those responsibilities need to be in line with his circumstances.”
The case against the 2010-11 FA Cup winner was reportedly brought by influencer Maiara Quiderolly.
She had an affair with Jô while he was still married to Cláudia Silva, as reported by Need To Know.
From that relationship, João Gabriel – Jô’s eighth child, and his sixth outside his marriage – was born.
Maiara and Jô ended their affair after she became pregnant.
Jô – who has not yet retired but is currently without a club – scored five times in 20 matches for Brazil between 2007 and 2014.
He won the FIFA Confederations Cup with the Seleção in 2013 and played in the FIFA World Cup the following year.
Jô’s previous arrest was also in connection with Maiara and João Gabriel.
The sum involved was “reasonably small”, according to Jô’s lawyer at the time, Artur Eugênio Matias.
Some reports say his latest arrest was, in fact, in connection with not one but two warrants and two of his children.
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