Ronaldinho Gaucho to Pay R$6 Million to Recover Impounded Passports

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Former football (soccer) star Ronaldinho Gaúcho and his brother Roberto Assis Moreira signed an agreement with the Rio Grande do Sul Prosecutor’s Office to receive back their impounded passports. The commitment was signed on Wednesday, September 11th, in Porto Alegre.

The brothers had their passports seized following a Court ruling in November 2018, due to an environmental fine involving the banks of Lake Guaíba, in the southern zone of Porto Alegre.

Last week, Ronaldinho Gaúcho was appointed Brazilian Tourism Ambassador by Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Institute). The case had strong reverberations because the former player is prevented from leaving the country.

“I can tell you that the parties have reached a consensus and the case is being solved and this issue is now over, it is part of the past. We have reached a settlement. For the rest, I can’t go into details because the lawsuit is being handled under judicial seal,” the brothers’ lawyer, Sergio Queiroz, told Estadão newspaper.

According to the hearing transcript, published on Wednesday in the court system, Ronaldinho Gaúcho and his brother Roberto Assis Moreira are required to deposit R$6 (US$1.5) million in a Fund for the Reconstruction of Damaged Goods, no later than October 1st.

In case of failure to comply with the scheduled date, the pair will be forced to disburse R$9.8 million, in addition to legal interest of 12 percent per year.

The brothers also undertook to recuperate the damaged area, in the southern zone of Porto Alegre, within 60 days of the city’s authorization, and only after settlement of the amount with their passports be returned, and the remaining attachments of their assets lifted.

In 2015, Ronaldinho Gaúcho and his brother Roberto Assis Moreira were convicted by the Rio Grande do Sul courts for illegally building a pier on the shores of Lake Guaíba, in the southern zone of Porto Alegre.

At the time, the structure was built without any environmental licensing and in a Permanent Preservation Area. As the fine was not paid, the Court decided to seize the brothers’ passports and also banned Ronaldinho and his brother from seeking new travel documents until they had paid the fine.

As tourism ambassador, Ronaldinho and celebrities like Amado Batista and Bruno and Marrone will take part in campaigns to promote Brazil and encourage international tourism in Brazil. According to Embratur, the image of the five-time world champion will be used on social media to display the beauties of Brazil abroad.

The first project that Ronaldinho will be part of will be the reality show “Rei do Rolê”. Foreigners will send videos and will compete for a trip to Brazil. The winner will be welcomed by Ronaldinho and other Embratur ambassadors.