Former Manchester United Footballer Anderson Faces Jail Sentence For Failing To Pay Child Maintenance

Former Manchester United footballer Anderson has reportedly been ordered to prison for allegedly failing to pay child maintenance. Anderson has been ordered to serve 30 days of jail time if he is unable to clear the debt, as claimed by Brazilian news outlet GZH (via talkSport). As per The Sun, the retired footballer owes £45,000 in child support. It was also revealed that Anderson will have to serve his sentence in the Irmao Miguel Dario Prison, located in his home city of Porto Alegre in the south of Brazil. The decision was, reportedly, made by a family court judge while Anderson was informed about the verdict last Thursday, September 5.

Anderson was reportedly offered the option of serving his prison time in a “semi-open” regime. This law would let him go outside the jail during the day to continue work or study. He, however, will be able to come back to the prison to sleep at night.

Anderson, who also spent his professional career in Italy, was believed to be a father to four children in 2015 but the number later rose to nine. It is not the first time that the Brazilian has courted controversies for off-field activities. Three years ago, his name was involved in a money laundering case. As per The Sun, Brazilian newspaper Globo reported that Anderson at the time was one of eight people under investigation by a state prosecutor.

Anderson enjoyed a successful spell at Manchester United where he joined in 2007 from Porto. The Brazilian midfielder spent eight years at Old Trafford and won as many as 12 trophies under the legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. Anderson joined Manchester United as a 19-year-old, with the club signing him on a £28-million deal.

Anderson became Premier League champion four times and won the Champions League title in 2008. Besides Manchester United, Anderson played for Italian club Fiorentina and Internacional in Brazil. He announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 31 after a two-season spell at Turkish club Adana Demirspor. Anderson represented the Brazil senior team in eight matches during his international career.