The public prosecutor’s office is requesting a prison sentence against football star Wissam Ben Yedder in the sexual assault case

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

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

Ben Yedder remained at large ahead of Tuesday’s hearing in the southern city of Nice after being accused of drunken sexual assault.

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

The court will announce its decision on November 12th.

The hearing came after a woman filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Ben Yedder last month.

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

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

Ben Yedder’s legal team is hoping for an acquittal over the sexual offense, which they say remains unsolved.

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

The prosecution also requested that Ben Yedder’s driver’s license be revoked for six months.

In a separate court case last year, Ben Yedder was charged with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault over another alleged incident in southern France.

Ben Yedder has been without a club since his contract with Monaco expired at the end of last season.

He scored 16 goals and three assists in the French league last season, helping Monaco to second place behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons for Monaco, he scored 118 goals in 201 appearances in all competitions, becoming the club’s second highest goalscorer behind retired Argentine striker Delio Onnis (223).

Ben Yedder has played 19 international matches for France, the last of which came in June 2022.

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press