Former Manchester United midfielder Anderson faces prison over unpaid child maintenance

A Brazilian family court in Porto Alegre has ordered former Manchester United midfielder Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira to begin a jail term for failing to pay about 1 million reais in child maintenance, roughly £142,000, owed to his children. The court on Sept. 3 ordered up to 30 days in prison unless the arrears are cleared.

Under the ruling, if space is available in local detention facilities, he would be held in a closed regime, meaning confinement and close supervision. If overcrowding requires it, authorities may instead place him under a semi-open regime that allows for daytime study or work but requires his return to a secure facility at night.

Anderson, full name Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira, is 37 years old and is best known for his spell with Manchester United, where he helped win the 2008 UEFA Champions League after arriving from Porto in 2007. He also played for Fiorentina in Italy and Internacional in Brazil before retiring in 2015-16, at the age of 31.

Public comment on the case has been limited. His lawyer, Julio Cezar Coitinho Jr., told local press the dispute involves minors but declined to discuss the matter further because of a secrecy order issued by the court.

At the height of his fame, he was surrounded by off-field headlines. The Brazilian media have described him as father to nine children, a figure he has cited in interviews. In a 2015 recollection about his time at United, he spoke of his experiences with teammates and the hospitality of senior players. He recalled that he and a fellow Brazilian teammate, Nani, were reportedly hosted by Cristiano Ronaldo for nearly a year, with Ronaldo providing training access, meals, and housing during that period while they lived at his home.

Anderson earned eight Brazil caps and made his national-team debut during the 2007 Copa America, which Brazil went on to win. He also played for the Brazil Olympic team at the 2008 Beijing Games, helping the country secure the bronze medal. After United, he signed a new contract with the club in 2010 before a free transfer to Internacional in 2014 as his club career wound down.

The decision to pursue jail time has been reported by Brazilian media, but there has been no confirmation from Manchester United or from authorities outside of the Porto Alegre family court. The case underscores ongoing tensions between public welfare cases and high-profile athletes who have large family obligations. It remains to be seen whether the confinement will proceed or be resolved through payment of the arrears. The status of any investigations related to prior allegations in Brazil remains unclear.