Former France international Ben Yedder set to face trial over rape allegations

The Nice prosecutors office informed AFP on Monday that ex French international Wissam Ben Yedder is due to stand trial on charges of rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

Sabri, the 35 year olds brother, faces similar proceedings for rape and sexual assault. The siblings were formally charged in 2023 after allegations, which they strongly contest, from two young women they encountered at a social event.

The investigating magistrate endorsed the prosecutors push for the brothers to be prosecuted on rape and sexual assault counts, while including attempted rape specifically against Wissam Ben Yedder.

For much of the past year, this 19 capped ex international, currently playing in Turkey, has drawn greater attention in legal circles than in football.

Just this September, the Nice criminal court imposed a €90,000 ($105,000) fine on him for psychological mistreatment of his estranged wife, with divorce proceedings underway.

Additionally, a Spanish court handed him a six month suspended term in 2023 for tax evasion linked to his time at Sevilla from 2016 to 2019.

Last November, he was given a two year suspended prison sentence for an incident of sexual assault on a woman from two months prior.

The ex Monaco forward had been clubless since his deal with the Ligue 1 outfit ended in June 2024, though he briefly joined Iranian team Sepahan SC in April aiming to relaunch his career.

However, that stint proved brief, and early in September, Ben Yedder moved to Turkish second tier club Sakaryaspor.