Joao Alves de Assis Silva, widely known as Jo, faced legal troubles in Brazil as he was apprehended by Federal Police at Sao Paulo International Airport. The former Manchester City striker was about to board a flight when he was detained and taken to a police station in Guarulhos. This arrest was reportedly linked to his failure to pay child support, a situation that has previously landed him in legal hot water.
Guilherme Motai, Jo’s lawyer, stated: “We were aware of the warrant due to the failure to pay child support. That failure stems from a financial situation that’s unrealistic – it doesn’t reflect the ex-player’s current reality. He’s not shirking his responsibilities, but those responsibilities need to be in line with his circumstances.”
Jo’s legal issues are not new, as he was previously arrested in May 2024 for similar reasons. That incident occurred just before a match for his team, Amazonas, against Ponte Preta in Brazil’s Serie B league. He was released the following day after his defense team successfully appealed to the court. The amount involved in that case was described as “reasonably small” by his then-lawyer, Artur Eugênio Matias.
Artur Eugênio Matias, Jo’s lawyer at the time, commented: “The sum involved on that occasion was ‘reasonably small’.”
Reports suggest that Jo’s latest arrest may involve not just one but two warrants related to two of his children. Despite these legal challenges, Jo has continued his football career in Brazil, playing for Itabirito, a fourth-division side, at the age of 38.
Jo’s career in England began with high expectations when Manchester City signed him for a club-record fee of £19 million from CSKA Moscow in 2008. However, his stint in the Premier League was short-lived. After joining Everton on loan for the second half of the 2008/09 season, he scored twice on his debut against Bolton Wanderers but managed only two more goals before being suspended by then-manager David Moyes for returning to Brazil without permission during the Christmas period.
Jo’s career has since taken him to various countries, including the UAE, China, and Japan, highlighting the journeyman nature of his professional life. Despite the challenges off the field, Jo continues to pursue his passion for football, albeit on a smaller stage in his home country.
