Fábio Rochemback has been arrested by police in his native Brazil accused of being involved in illegal cockfighting. The former Middlesborough and Barcelona midfielder was linked to the illegal blood sport back in 2011 when a farm he owned was raided by the police.

Rochemback’s father, quoted by Portuguese daily O Jogo, suggested that his son was with him at the family home in Soledade, Rio Grande do Sul, at the time of the raid but has now returned to Porto Alegre to resolve the situation.

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According to Brazilian broadcaster Globo Esporte, police seized 89 fighting cocks, £24,000 and a shotgun during the raid.

Rochemback who represented Brazil on seven occasions and boasts Sporting, Internacional, Gremio and Chinese side Dalian Aerbin amongst him former clubs was sold by Barcelona in 2005 after falling down the pecking order at the Nou Camp.