Greenwood, Ronaldinho, Alves:  Top 15 famous footballers who went to jail 

The spotlight often shines brightly on the glory and success of the players on the field. However, beneath the fame and fortune, there lies a darker side for some footballers who have found themselves entangled with the law. 

This list delves into the stories of 15 famous footballers who have faced legal troubles, some resulting in time behind bars. 

From reckless driving to serious criminal charges, these individuals have seen their careers and lives take unexpected turns off the pitch.”

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1. Mason Greenwood

English player Mason Greenwood was detained in 2022 on suspicion of sexual violation, physical assault, and murder threats. 

He was released on bail after three nights of interrogation. Manchester United suspended him from playing and training during the pending investigation, but Greenwood later joined Spanish side Getafe.

2. Benjamin Mendy

Benjamin Mendy, a Manchester City player, faced accusations of sexual assault involving five women. He was initially jailed at HMP Altcourse in Liverpool but was later moved to HMP Manchester.

 Mendy was ultimately cleared of the charges, but the case had a significant impact on his career as he left Manchester City for France.

3. Ronaldinho

Barcelona legend Ronaldinho found himself at the center of a fake passports scandal in Paraguay.

 In 2020, he and his brother pleaded guilty, reducing their sentence from five years to five months with a joint fine. Ronaldinho spent time in jail in Asuncion.

4. Joey Barton

Joey Barton, a player known for his on-field rage, faced legal issues both on and off the field. 

He was sentenced to 77 days in prison for assaulting a pedestrian in Liverpool and received a four-month suspension term for assaulting his former Manchester City teammate, Ousmane Dabo.

5. Lee Hughes

Lee Hughes was involved in a fatal accident while driving his £100,000 Mercedes. The accident led to the death of a passenger from the other vehicle, and Hughes was convicted of murder and fleeing the scene.

He served a six-year prison sentence and a ten-year driving prohibition.

6. Adam Chapman

In 2009, Adam Chapman pleaded guilty to causing the death of another man due to reckless driving. 

He was sentenced to 30 months in a Youth Offenders Institute. Chapman, an Irishman, recently resumed his career with Oxford United after being released from prison.

7. James Cotterill

James Cotterill made headlines for an incident on the football pitch. While playing for Barrow in a 2006 FA Cup match, he punched Sean Rigg of Bristol Rovers, causing a double fracture of the jaw. 

Cotterill was banned from all football by the English FA until March of 2007 and was sentenced to four months in prison for grievous bodily harm.

8. Daniel Alves

Former Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves has been formally indicted on Wednesday, facing charges of sexual assault of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub that occurred in December. 

His lawyer has announced that Alves will not impede the legal process by appealing against the indictment.

9. Ian Wright (Car Insurance)

The former Arsenal and Crystal Palace star, Ian Wright, faced legal troubles for failing to pay insurance and taxes on his two cars. 

He served a 14-day prison sentence for these financial lapses.

10.  Peter Swan

Peter Swan, who could have been a potential world-class player for Sheffield Wednesday, took a different path. In 1962, Swan and two other Wednesday teammates bet on their team to lose their final match of the season. 

When the gambling ring was discovered, Swan was banned from football and later sentenced to four months in prison.

11. Nizar Trabelsi

Nizar Trabelsi’s football career was short-lived. After just one league appearance for Fortuna Dusseldorf, he was arrested for having connections to Al-Qa’ida and was convicted of plotting an attack against American soldiers stationed at a Belgian airbase. Trabelsi was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

12. Ian Wright (Different Case)

This is a different Ian Wright. He played for Crystal Palace and Arsenal and was jailed for two weeks in 1982 for not paying insurance or driving fines for his two cars.

13. Stig Tofting

Stig Tofting, a Danish footballer who had a successful career in Germany, moved to the Premier League’s Bolton Wanderers. 

However, after a celebration with his Danish teammates that involved him head-butting the owner of a restaurant in Copenhagen, Tofting was convicted of assault and sentenced to four months in prison.

14. Adam Johnson 

The scandal involving Adam Johnson, the ex-Manchester City and Sunderland footballer, remains vivid in the memory of many fans. 

In 2016, Johnson, a former England international, faced conviction for child sex offenses. Sunderland terminated his contract after it was revealed that he had been involved with a 15-year-old girl, whose identity is protected by law. Johnson, now 34, was released from prison in 2019, having served half of his six-year sentence split between HM Prison Leeds and HM Prison Moorland..

15. Jermaine Pennant

In 2005, Jermaine Pennant, the Arsenal winger, received a three-month jail sentence for offenses related to drink-driving and driving while disqualified. 

Following his release, he made history as one of the first players to compete professionally while wearing an electronic tag. 

Pennant went on to have a successful career with clubs such as Liverpool, Real Zaragoza, and Stoke City. In a different turn of events, he ventured into reality television, gaining recognition for his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother.