Monaco striker Ben Yedder charged with rape

Monaco captain and French forward, Wissam Ben Yedder, finds himself charged with grave allegations of “rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault,” stemming from alleged incidents on the idyllic Cote d’Azur last month. This unsettling revelation was unveiled by prosecutors in Nice on Friday.

The legal proceedings have taken a swift course, with Ben Yedder placed under judicial supervision and a substantial bail of 900,000 euros ($987,000) demanded as a condition for his release, according to statements from the Nice prosecutor’s office shared with AFP.

The seriousness of the accusations is further underscored by the confirmation from public prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme in July, highlighting that two victims have come forward, each making allegations of rape against two individuals.

Disturbing details continue to emerge, as reports from France Info indicate that the alleged incidents involved two young women, aged 19 and 20. They claim that both Ben Yedder and his younger brother were implicated in coercing them into non-consensual sexual acts following a night out.

This situation has cast a shadow over Ben Yedder’s career, tarnishing the 32-year-old’s reputation both on and off the pitch. While he has previously represented France with pride, earning 19 caps, his last appearance for the national team dates back to June 2022.

Ben Yedder’s professional journey has seen him excel, scoring a remarkable 98 goals for Monaco since his arrival at the club in 2019. A former player for Toulouse and Sevilla, he was seen participating in training with Monaco on Friday, ahead of their highly anticipated Ligue 1 season opener against Clermont scheduled for Sunday.

However, this is not the first legal encounter for Ben Yedder. In April, during his tenure at Sevilla, he faced a conviction for tax fraud from a Spanish court, resulting in a six-month suspended prison sentence and a substantial fine of 133,798 euros ($149,753).