Brazil coach Dorival Junior said the national team and players were going through a "difficult time" coming to terms with the rape convictions of former internationals Robinho and Dani Alves.

Supreme Court Judge Luiz Fux rejected Robinho's request for a stay and ruled "the detention order is maintained... so that he can begin serving his sentence."

The court ruled by nine votes to two in favor of an Italian request that Robinho serve his sentence in his home country after he was found guilty of taking part in the gang rape of an Albanian woman

Brazil president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has said that he hopes Robinho can "serve" the sentence on Brazilian soil.

Robinho, 33, who currently plays with Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, pleaded not guilty via his lawyer and never appeared at any of the court hearings in northern Italy.

Robinho rescinded his contract with AC Milan in May and had spent the past year on loan at Santos, scoring 17 goals in 41 matches.

Robinho did not make the World Cup squad but is back in favour with Dunga at the helm.

Robinho, who was left out of World Cup squad, has won 92 caps for the Selecao.