Former French national team player spends weekend in detention after new accusation of sexual assault
Ben Yedder, formerly of Monaco and Sevilla, is banned from leaving the Alpes-Maritimes region of France, going out at night or visiting drinking establishments; he will be tried on October 15
Former Monaco and France striker Wissam Ben Yedder was taken into police custody last weekend for “sexual assault while drunk”, the newspaper L’Équipe reported on Monday.
Ben Yedder was arrested after a young woman, born in 2001, reported him for “sexual assault”. This allegedly happened inside his car, on the night of Friday to Saturday, in the Alpes-Maritimes region, where the player lives. He continued to live there after his contract with Monaco ended. The striker was stopped by the police while drunk, according to information from “L’Équipe”.
Ben Yedder was released from police detention on Sunday and was immediately summoned to appear in court on October 15. He is charged with “sexual assault while clearly intoxicated, refusal to comply and driving under the influence.”
The Public Prosecutor’s Office even requested the player’s preventive detention and tried to appeal the first court decision, which released him. However, Ben Yedder was placed under strict control, being prohibited from leaving the Alpes-Maritimes region, going out between 8 pm and 6 am, visiting establishments with drinks and nightclubs, and from contacting the victim . He is also required to undergo medical treatment twice a week.
This is not the first such incident involving the player. Ben Yedder was charged last year with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault by the Nice prosecutor’s office.
He played for Monaco between the 2019/20 and 2023/24 seasons. The striker played 201 official games for the team during that period, scoring 118 goals and providing 28 assists. In 2019/20, Ben Yedder was one of the top scorers in the French Championship, with 18 goals (tied with Mbappé, who was at Paris Saint-Germain).
He has also played 19 times for France, scoring three goals and providing four assists. Ben Yedder has not played in the World Cup or European Championship for France, only friendlies, Nations League matches and qualifying matches.
