International Football Elx-footballer owes thousands

Rio de Janeiro's Justice department has ordered the imprisonment of former Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos for a period of three months due to delays in the payment of alimony for two of his children.

The 44-year-old owes 61,000 reals ($20,000) to his ex-partner Barbara Thurler.

The case is being processed under summary secrecy in the family court of the Itaperuna Forum in the state of Rio de Janeiro, judicial sources told Efe.

Local media say that Carlos, who is currently the ambassador of Real Madrid in Asia and Oceania, claimed financial problems to justify the delay of the payment.

Considered one of the best left-backs in history, he recently became a father for the ninth time after his current wife, Mariana Lucon, gave birth to a girl named Mariana.

He has not been the only Brazilian player to have a prison order against him for not paying child support either.

World champion Edilson Silva Ferrerira, who was part of the Brazilian team that won the 2002 Japan-Korea World Cup, was sent to jail on two occasions.

Edilson came to accumulate a debt of 430,000 reales (about 136,000 dollars) for maintenance, including interest of three years of arrears.