French soccer player Wissam Ben Yedder has been handed a suspended sentence of two years in prison following his trial in France concerning allegations of sexual assault against a woman. This ruling was communicated by one of his attorneys on Tuesday.
During the trial last month, the prosecutor had sought a total sentence of two years and six months, which included an 18-month suspended period. Ben Yedder’s lawyer, Marie Roumiantseva, confirmed that the court required him to pay 5,000 euros (approximately $5,300) in compensation to the victim and mandated that he undergo treatment as part of his sentencing.
The lawyer representing the victim, Frank Michel, described the plaintiff as being in a state of shock and had requested damages amounting to 25,000 euros. The charges against Ben Yedder arose from a lawsuit filed in September by the woman who accused him of sexual assault while under the influence of alcohol. He retains the option to appeal the court’s decision.
At 34 years old, Ben Yedder is known for his impressive scoring ability and has also played for the French national team. He was initially detained at the scene of the incident on the French Riviera, where he subsequently faced arrest at his residence later that night after attempting to evade the authorities by not halting his vehicle.
Additionally, the court has ruled to suspend Ben Yedder’s driving license for a duration of six months. After his arrest, Ben Yedder began a process of alcohol detoxification and therapy, acknowledging that he was driving under the influence during the incident. During his court statements, he claimed not to remember any details surrounding a sexual assault, citing his level of intoxication at the time.
Currently, Ben Yedder is without a club, having seen his contract with Monaco expire at the conclusion of the previous season. Last year, he managed to net 16 goals and provide three assists in the French league, aiding Monaco in securing a second-place finish, only trailing Paris Saint-Germain. Over his five seasons at Monaco, he accumulated an impressive total of 118 goals across 201 appearances in various competitions, placing him as the second all-time top scorer for the club, following the retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis, who scored 223 goals.
Ben Yedder has made a total of 19 appearances for the French national team, with his last match occurring in June 2022. Furthermore, he was implicated in a separate legal case last year, facing charges related to rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault concerning another incident reported in the south of France.