Ronnie Stam sentenced to seven years

Former Wigan Athletic defender Ronnie Stam has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of drug smuggling.

Ex-Premier League star and FA Cup winner jailed for seven years over drug smuggling probe

A former Premier League player has been jailed for seven years in a drug smuggling case. Ronnie Stam, who helped Wigan Athletic win the FA Cup in 2013, was found guilty of import plans involving 700kg of cocaine from Chile. The court said Stam played a determining and coordinating role in this operation and stayed in contact with the shipment owner in Dubai. The drugs were set to arrive in Rotterdam but were intercepted in Chile, and Stam was arrested on June 10 last year along with several family members.

The Public Prosecution Service sought a longer sentence, but not every allegation was proven. Stam and the others involved face a €30,000 fine and about €1.7 million in criminal proceeds that will be confiscated. Stam’s former football life includes 358 senior appearances and a FA Cup triumph with Wigan, though he did not play in the final itself.

Rule-breaking by athletes rarely stays within the pitch. Stam’s case highlights how access to money and networks can lure players beyond the sport’s boundaries. It also underscores the ongoing need for clubs and leagues to scrutinize off-field behavior as part of a broader effort to protect the game’s integrity. The sentencing signals that high-profile figures can face serious consequences, even after long careers in top flight football.

Beyond the legal outcome, the episode invites reflection on support structures for players who face pressure after retirement and the responsibility of agents and families in safeguarding careers from bad decisions. It also raises questions about how football authorities communicate penalties publicly while respecting due process and privacy.

Highlights

The case invites ongoing scrutiny of how football governs life off the pitch.