An ex-World Cup star remains in detention after being arrested for at least the fifth time for failing to pay child support.
Former Manchester City and Everton forward Jô was arrested at a nightclub in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, at around 4am on Sunday (14 Jun) after police received information that he was there.
The arrest warrant had been issued by a court in São Paulo in January over unpaid child support.
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According to court documents, the debt stood at 145,400 BRL (£21,403) as of June 2025.
Yesterday (15 Jun), Jô, 39, appeared at a custody hearing in Belo Horizonte, where a judge ruled there were no irregularities in the arrest and ordered that he remain in custody.
The case will now be sent to the São Paulo judiciary, which will decide the next steps.
This is at least the fifth time Jô, whose full name is João Alves de Assis Silva, has been arrested for failing to pay child support.
He was previously arrested in Campinas in May 2024, in Contagem in December 2024, at Guarulhos Airport in June 2025, and at a beach bar in Rio de Janeiro in November 2025.
Following his third arrest, it was reported that the case against him had been brought by influencer Maiara Quiderolly, with whom Jô had an affair while still married to Cláudia Silva.
Their relationship led to the birth of João Gabriel, his eighth child and sixth conceived outside his marriage.
The affair ended after Maiara became pregnant, as reported by Need To Know.
Following that arrest, Jô’s 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.”
Jô announced his retirement from football in August 2025 after a spell at Brazilian Série D side Itabirito.
He scored five goals in 20 appearances for Brazil between 2007 and 2014, and played at the 2014 World Cup.
He lifted the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2011, having previously played for Everton.
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