PARIS: French soccer star Wissam Ben Yedder received a suspended sentence of two years in prison on Tuesday after his trial last month in France for sexually assaulting a woman, one of his lawyers told The Associated Press.
The prosecutor requested a jail sentence of two years, six months, including 18 months suspended.
Lawyer Marie Roumiantseva said Ben Yedder, who was accused of sexual assault while intoxicated, was ordered to pay compensation of 5,000 euros ($5,300) to the victim. The court in the southern city of Nice also imposed on Ben Yedder a duty to follow treatment.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that the victim was in a state of shock and asked for 25,000 euros in damages.
Ben Yedder was charged after a woman filed a lawsuit against him in September. He can appeal the ruling.
The 34-year-old player, a prolific striker who has also played for the national team, was briefly detained then released after the incident in his car on the French Riviera. He was arrested at his home later that night after he first refused to stop his car.
The court also ordered the suspension of Ben Yedder’s driving license for six months.
After his arrest, Ben Yedder — who has since started alcohol detox and therapy — admitted he drove while under the influence. He said during the trial he was so drunk he has no recollection of any kind of sexual assault.
Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.
He scored 16 goals with three assists in the French league last season to help Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons with Monaco, he scored 118 times in 201 appearances in all competitions to become the club’s second-highest scorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223).
Ben Yedder has 19 caps for France, the last of which came in June 2022.
In a separate legal case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in the south of France.
Former France striker Wissam Ben Yedder gets 2-year suspended jail sentence in sexual assault case
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Former France striker Wissam Ben Yedder gets 2-year suspended jail sentence in sexual assault case
- The prosecutor requested a jail sentence of two years, six months, including 18 months suspended
- The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that the victim was in a state of shock and asked for 25,000 euros in damages
$1.5m Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup draws strong field
- Nasser Mutlaq saddles 4 for Friday feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse
- Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah top rated of 11 runners
RIYADH: Trainer Nasser Mutlaq will saddle four runners in this year’s $1.5 million (SR5.6 million) Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Cup, which takes place on Friday at the King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh.
Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah, ridden by Adel Alfouraidi, is the pick of Mutlaq’s entries for the Group 1 event, which is the jewel in the crown of the two-day Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Arabian Horse Festival.
Despite having run only six times, the 6-year-old has four wins and is top-rated of the 11 runners for the 1,800 meter feature.
Last time out he beat the reopposing French-trained Al Kaaser by four lengths in the G3 Imam Turki bin Abdullah Sword on Dec. 27. Turki Al-Khalediah II and Mutwakel Alkhalediah, which finished third and fourth in that race, and recent winner Mostabsil Al-Khalediah complete the Mutlaq quartet.
Another French raider is Moshrif, trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, which chased home Tilal AI Khalediah in the G1 Al-Mneefah Cup during last year’s Saudi Cup weekend.
Mutlaq will also be well represented in Friday’s $300,000 Princess Mounira Bint Abdulaziz Bin Musaed Bin Jalawi Cup over 1,600 meters, saddling three of the eight runners.
His trio comprises Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah, which was second to Tilal AI-Khalediah in Taif in September, Mubarizat Alkhalediah and Maitha Al Khalediah. France will be represented by the Elizabeth Bernard-trained Algheed.
Thursday’s feature is the Group 2 $500,000 Al Khalediah Stable International Cup over 1,600 meters, in which Nawahel Alkhalediah and Nijinski Al Maury stand out in a field of eight after finishing sixth and seventh respectively behind Nadem Al-Molwk Al-Khalediah last month.
Before that will be the inaugural running of the $100,000 Mutlaq bin Moshrif Cup, staged in honor of Nasser Mutlaq’s father, who died last year.
Saturday’s all-thoroughbred card features the 2,400 meter $40,000 Al-Jouf Region Governorate Cup which has a full field of 20 declared and includes two runners for the White Stable of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, headed by jockey Camilio Ospina’s course and distance winner Almaqam.
Also on the card is the $40,000 Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture Cup over 1,600 meters for fillies and mares. The British-trained Dance Desire for the Ricardo Ferreira, Thamer Aldaihani, Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Almalek Alsabah combination is top rated.
