The Public Prosecution Service requests prison sentence against football star Wissam Ben Yedder in a sexual assault case

A French prosecutor has sought a prison sentence of two years and six months, with 18 months suspended, for French football star Wissam Ben Yedder after he went on trial for sexually assaulting a woman last month.

The prosecutor said the sentence could be adjustable and Ben Yedder’s lawyers are confident he will escape prison even if convicted, attorney Marie Roumiantseva told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Ben Yedder remained free ahead of Tuesday’s hearing in the southern city of Nice after being charged with drunken assault.

“Although not a single day in prison has been requested against Ben Yedder, the claims are very harsh for facts that are both legally questionable and not very serious,” Roumiantseva said.

The court will give its ruling on November 12.

The hearing took place after a woman filed a lawsuit against Ben Yedder last month for sexual assault.

Ben Yedder, 34, a prolific striker who has also played for the national team, was briefly detained and then released after the incident in his car on the French Riviera. He was arrested at his home later that evening after initially refusing to stop his car.

After his arrest, Ben Yedder – who has since started alcohol detox and therapy – admitted to driving under the influence. He said he was so drunk during the trial that he doesn’t remember any sexual assault.

Ben Yedder’s legal team is hoping for an acquittal for the sexual offence, which it claims is not established.

The plaintiff’s lawyer, Frank Michel, said during the trial that she was in a “state of shock” and asked for 25,000 euros ($27,225) in damages, L’Equipe newspaper reported.

The prosecutor also demanded that Ben Yedder’s driver’s license be suspended for six months.

Last year, Ben Yedder was charged in a separate lawsuit with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in the south of France.

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 and helped Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons at Monaco, he scored 118 goals in 201 games in all competitions, becoming the club’s second-highest scorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223).

Ben Yedder played nineteen international matches for France, the last of which was in June 2022.