AC Milan president and majority owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of paying to have sex with a 17-year-old girl, Karima El Mahroug.

The former Italian Prime Minister cut a devastated figure in court on Monday, as the sentence was read out.

Berlusconi has also been given a lifetime ban from holding political office, after he was found guilty of abusing his power as Prime Minister for ordering El Mahroug’s release following her arrest for shop lifting.

76-year-old Berlusconi is sure to appeal the sentence. He insists that while El Mahroug was present at his notorious ‘bunga bunga’ parties, she was not there to provide sexual services.

Berlusconi’s political opponents have rejoiced that he can longer participate in Italian politics after his scandal ridden era at the helm.

His allies have threatened to boycott parliament should he be imprisoned.

Milan’s rivals in the Serie A meanwhile, are surely rejoicing in the bad news that has befallen the Rossoneri, although what impact Berlusconi’s sentence will have on the team remains to be seen.