The French court in Nice issued a two-year suspended prison sentence in absentia against French player Wissam Ben Yedder, on charges of sexually assaulting a young woman who had filed a complaint against him. The case raised widespread controversy and questions about the full details of the incident and the reasons that led to this legal crisis.
Details of the Wissam Ben Yedder case
The roots of the crisis go back to last September, when Ben Yedder, who was drunk, assaulted a 23-year-old woman. After the incident, the victim went to the police to report what happened, which led to Ben Yedder being arrested and taken to the police station for investigation.
During the medical examination conducted on him, it was found that the level of alcohol in his blood was high, and in the first trial session, Ben Yedder commented, saying: “I do not remember what happened, because I am here because of the alcohol.”
Judgment issued against Ben Yedder
The Nice Criminal Court issued a two-year suspended prison sentence, and the player was also obligated to pay financial compensation amounting to 6,500 euros to the victim, in addition to a fine of 5,000 euros for his intransigence and refusal to cooperate with the police.
His driving license was suspended for six months as an additional penalty. During the trial, Ben Yedder admitted to committing the crime, explaining that he was under the influence of alcohol when the police stopped him.
Causes of the crisis and the effect of alcohol
Ben Yedder stated, in his testimony, that he did not remember the details of the incident accurately due to the influence of alcohol, adding that he resorted to drinking as an attempt to escape from his personal problems, expressing his deep remorse, describing the incident as one of the worst decisions of his life.
He apologized to the victim and her family for the harm he caused. Ben Yedder’s crises did not end with this incident, as he is also subject to judicial supervision related to another sexual assault charge dating back to 2023.
His sports career
Ben Yedder sat at home after leaving French club Monaco this summer, where he had spent five years in its ranks, scoring 118 goals and 34 assists during 201 matches in all tournaments, thus becoming one of the most prominent strikers in the club’s history.
At the international level, Ben Yedder played 19 matches with the French national team and scored three goals, and his last appearance with the national team was in June 2022.
His background and upbringing
Wissam Ben Yedder was born on August 12, 1990 in the Sarcelles region, north of Paris, to a Tunisian immigrant family. His talent for football emerged from his childhood, as he began his career in the streets and popular neighbourhoods, which contributed to the development of his technical skills and great control of the ball.
After starting from small local clubs, he moved to Toulouse, which gave him the opportunity to play in the French First Division, and he quickly attracted attention to his high skills, making a big leap in his sports career by moving to Seville in the Spanish League, before landing in Monaco.
His personal life and other details
Ben Yedder married Dana Maluki, a woman of Tunisian origin, but the relationship did not last long after she filed a lawsuit against him on charges of psychological violence last October, which added additional complexity to his personal life.
Ben Yedder remains one of the most prominent French strikers, distinguished by his speed and high scoring skills, as he scored 259 goals in 513 matches during his professional career.
The open end of his career
Today, after leaving Monaco, Ben Yedder does not belong to any team, which raises questions about his sporting future after this legal crisis, and whether he will be able to overcome it and return to the stadiums, or will its repercussions permanently affect his career.
With this case, Ben Yedder joins the list of football players who have been involved in legal issues that affected their careers.