The court orders a rape trial against Wissam Ben Yedder

Wissam Ben Yedder was a key player for AS Monaco from 2019 to 2024. Imago

Former French national team striker Wissam Ben Yedder has been referred to French justice for "rape, attempted rape and sexual assault", AFP learned Monday from the prosecutor's office in Nice, in southeastern France.

The former Monaco player (2019-2024), aged 35 and now playing in the Turkish 2nd division, as well as his brother Sabri, also sent back for rape and sexual assault, were charged in 2023 following accusations - which they deny - by two young women , aged 18 and 19 at the time of the events.

The investigating judge followed the prosecution's request, which at the end of May had requested that they both be tried for rape and sexual assault, adding the charge of attempted rape for Wissam Ben Yedder.

The player appeals

The two men were referred to the Alpes-Maritimes departmental criminal court (southeast France). In France, a criminal court tries adults accused of crimes punishable by 15 to 20 years' imprisonment and is composed solely of professional judges.

Wissam Ben Yedder's lawyer, Sophia Kerbaa, announced in the evening that she would appeal the referral of her client, who "has fervently contested the facts alleged against him since the beginning of these proceedings."

Guillaume Carré, the lawyer for one of the alleged victims, told AFP that the young woman was "relieved and satisfied that the facts are finally being acknowledged."

Repeated escapades

For several months, the former international, with 19 caps and 3 goals for Les Bleus, has been making headlines more for his legal troubles than his on-field career. In early September, he was fined €90,000 by the Nice criminal court for psychological abuse of his wife, from whom he is currently separated and in the process of divorcing.

After being convicted in Spain for tax fraud while playing for Sevilla (2016-2019), he was tried in the fall of 2024 for sexually assaulting a young woman during a drunken night out a few months earlier. Sentenced to two years' imprisonment, suspended, he appealed.

AS Monaco's second-highest scorer in history had been without a club since his contract with the Principality expired in June 2024, but in April he left for Iran to try and revive his career with Sepahan SC, five-time Iranian champions. The move was short-lived, and in early September, Ben Yedder signed with Sakaryaspor in the Turkish second division.

Victim or witness of a sexual assault?

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