November 11 – Aminata Diallo, a French international midfielder with Paris St. Germain’s women’s team, has been arrested by police as part of an investigation into an attack on at least one teammate on November 4.
Diallo (pictured), 26, was detained on Wednesday morning, the day after she had played in PSG’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League. In a statement, the club said they were working with police “to shed light on the facts”.
As well as strongly condemning “the violence committed”, the club also added they had “taken all the necessary measures to guarantee the health, well-being and safety of players” since the attack took place.
Reports in France suggest that teammate Kheira Hamraoui – Diallo’s direct PSG rival – was allegedly dragged out of her car by two masked individuals who beat her with an iron bar in a brutal assualt. It is being alleged that Diallo hired them in order to steal Hamrauoi’s place in the squad.
Diallo, who has been capped seven times for France, joined PSG in 2016 and has made more than 60 appearances for the club.
The attack happened following a team meal that PSG held for players in Paris, a relative of Hamraoui told L’Equipe. After the meal, Diallo offered to drive Hamraoui from the restaurant to her home, close to where her own property is located, it is further claimed.
When the pair got close to Hamraoui’s home, two masked men apparently stopped the car, carried out the assault and then fled. Hamraoui was taken to hospital where she was given stitches in her legs and hands. PSG said at the time that she sat out the Champions League game for ‘personal reasons’.
The case appears to be one of personal rivalry and professional jealousy and Noël Le Graët, president of the French soccer federation, expressed his shock at the incident.
“What is suspected is implausible,” Le Graët said. “I know both players. I am appalled if what is mentioned is true. It seems unimaginable.”
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