Wissam Ben Yedder handed 2-year suspended sentence after being accused of sexual assault while intoxicated
Former AS Monaco and France national team striker Wissam Ben Yedder has been handed a two-year suspended jail sentence after he was found guilty of sexual assault while intoxicated. A woman filed a lawsuit against him in September, leading to the charges against the 34-year-old player.
After Ben Yedder was arrested in September, a decision was made to release him from custody rather than keep him in detention. However, according to ESPN, the public prosecutor’s office disagreed with the decision and appealed it.
On September 9, L’Equipe reported that the Frenchman was asked to appear in court and has since been placed under judicial supervision. During the trial, the Frenchman admitted to driving under the influence and had no recollection of any sexual assault. Since his arrest, he has attended Alcoholics Anonymous and expressed his desire to overcome the situation.
On November 12, Wissam Ben Yedder was tried before the Nice Criminal Court for sexual assault and was found guilty of all the charges (drunk driving, refusal to comply, and sexual assault) before a verdict was given.
As part of his two-year jail sentence, Ben Yedder was also notified of an obligation to provide care and compensation for the victim set at €6,500 (€5,000 for moral damages and €1,500 in legal costs). He was also fined €5,000 and had his driving license suspended for six months.
The Frenchman has played for different clubs in Europe, including Toulouse, Sevilla, and Monaco. He has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
Across stints at Toulouse, Sevilla, and Monaco, Ben Yedder scored 259 goals and provided 78 assists in 513 appearances across competitions. He has played 19 times for the French national team, registering three goals and four assists, with his most recent appearance coming in June 2022.
Wissam Ben Yedder can appeal the sexual assault sentence charged against him – Reports
While the Nice Criminal Court has given its verdict on Wissam Ben Yedder’s alleged sexual assault, the former Monaco striker can appeal the verdict.
According to his lawyers Hasna Louzé and Marie Roumiantseva, the 34-year-old is aware of the decision made by the court in Nice but has reservations about its legal finding.
They released a statement that read (via RMC Sport):
"Mr. Wissam Ben Yedder has taken note of the decision rendered by the Nice judicial court. While he has the greatest respect for the judicial decisions of the French courts, he nevertheless contests the legal qualification of sexual assault retained by the court and intends to appeal this conviction."
"In the meantime, he continues to receive the necessary care, as well as intensive sports training that he started in October. He will be ready to return to the field in the coming weeks," they added.
Last year, in a separate legal matter, Ben Yedder faced charges of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault in connection with an alleged incident in the south of France.