Former France international footballer Wissam Ben Yedder has been handed a suspended two-year jail sentence for s3xually assaulting a woman in September. The 34-year-old, who previously captained French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco and is the club's second all-time leading goal scorer, was sentenced on Tuesday after being found guilty of the offense.
The incident occurred on the evening of September 6, when Ben Yedder, who had been drinking, met a woman and invited her into his car. The woman later told police that Ben Yedder performed a s3x act in front of her. She immediately filed a complaint with the authorities, and Ben Yedder was arrested later that night.
During the trial, Ben Yedder claimed that he did not remember the events and attributed his actions to alcohol consumption. "I don’t remember anything, I can’t say if I did it. It’s because of alcohol that I’m here," he said. The footballer, who entered a rehab program after the incident, did not attend the sentencing.
In addition to this case, Ben Yedder is facing another trial in December on charges of psychological violence against his wife, as the couple is in the process of divorcing. He is also under investigation for a separate allegation of rape by another woman in the summer of 2023, which he has denied.
Ben Yedder began his professional career at Toulouse before moving to Sevilla in Spain. He was convicted of tax fraud in Spain in 2023, receiving a six-month suspended sentence. He joined Monaco in 2019, scoring 118 goals in 201 appearances, but his contract was not renewed at the end of the 2023-2024 season. He also scored three goals in 19 appearances for the French national team.