Former France forward Wissam Ben Yedder faced trial last month due to allegations of sexual assault while under the influence of alcohol. He received a two-year suspended prison sentence after being convicted of sexual assault. The ex-Toulouse, Sevilla, and Monaco player may appeal the verdict.
Ben Yedder Gets 2-Year Suspended Sentence
Ben Yedder has been handed a suspended two-year prison sentence following his trial in France for sexually assaulting a woman, according to one of his lawyers who spoke to The Associated Press. The prosecutor asked for a jail term of two years and six months, with 18 months of that being suspended. Lawyer Marie Roumiantseva announced that Ben Yedder, facing accusations of sexual assault while under the influence of alcohol, has been ordered to pay €5,000 ($5,300) in compensation to the victim. Ben Yedder was also ordered by the court in Nice, southern France, a duty to follow treatment.
During the trial, the lawyer for the plaintiff, Frank Michel, stated that the victim was in shock and requested €25,000 in damages. The 34-year-old forward, known for his scoring ability and experience with the France national team, was temporarily held and then let go following the incident involving his vehicle on the French Riviera. Later that night, he was detained at his house after first refusing to stop his car. The court has decided to suspend Ben Yedder’s driving license for a period of six months.
The Allegations
On the night of September 6, Ben Yedder came across a woman while out drinking and invited her into his car, as stated in the investigation. He then took the 2001-born lady to an underground parking area, trying to expose himself in front of her and touching her thigh, according to RMC Sport. The defense argued that the claim of touching the woman on the thigh is ‘not a serious fact.’ He was then taken into custody in a ‘state of intoxication.’ This was late on Friday night, September 6, and into the early hours of Saturday morning. The 34-year-old said during the trial:
“I don’t remember anything, I can’t say if I did it. It’s because of alcohol that I’m here.”
The ex-Monaco forward stated in court that he was seriously intoxicated and could not recall any sexual assault taking place. Following his arrest, 34-year-old Yedder has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and has expressed his desire to overcome his challenges. He said:
‘I’m putting in the work. To stop for good is the best solution to cure myself. I’ve always pointed out and I’ve always been there when justice called on me.’ He has also consulted a specialist psychologist.
Conclusion
Ben Yedder was absent from the sentencing on Tuesday. He is also facing another trial in December, where he is accused of psychological violence against his wife. The couple are expected to go through a divorce. The 34-year-old is also facing accusations from another woman who claims he raped her during the summer of 2023. The police are continuing to look into that claim. However, he has denied both claims. Ben Yedder kicked off his professional journey at Toulouse and later made a move to Sevilla. In 2023, a court in Spain ruled that he committed tax fraud during his time in the country, resulting in a six-month suspended sentence.
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since his deal with AS Monaco ended last season. He netted 16 goals and provided three assists in Ligue 1, playing a key role in Monaco’s second-place finish, just behind Paris Saint-Germain. During his five seasons at Monaco, he found the back of the net 118 times in 201 appearances across all competitions. This impressive tally makes him the club’s second-highest scorer, trailing only behind the legendary Argentine striker Delio Onnis, who scored 223 goals. Ben Yedder has played 19 times for the French national team, with his most recent appearance in June 2022.
