French football club Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday announced a player on its women’s team had been arrested in connection with an allegedly planned and executed assault on one of her teammates.
According to ESPN, authorities arrested Aminata Diallo on Wednesday after her teammate Kheira Hamraoui was attacked by two men last week. The October 4 incident occurred while Hamraoui was in the company of Diallo and two other teammates following a club dinner in Paris.
The teammates had left the location in Diallo’s car. But Hamraoui was attacked by two men in front of her home after Diallo, 26, parked to drop her off. The men, who were wearing ski masks, allegedly pulled Hamraoui out of the car before striking her legs with iron bars for two minutes. The attackers subsequently fled the scene.
Sources said Hamraoui was subsequently transported to the hospital with leg injuries that required stitches. Fortunately, her injuries aren’t career-ending.
“Paris Saint-Germain acknowledges that Aminata Diallo was remanded in police custody this morning by the Versailles SRPJ as part of the proceedings initiated following an assault last Thursday evening against the club’s players,” PSG said in the statement.
“Paris Saint-Germain condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence committed. Since the evening of Thursday, Nov. 4, the club has taken all the necessary measures to guarantee the health, well-being and safety of its players,” the statement added.
“PSG is working closely with the Versailles SRPJ to shed light on the facts. The club is paying close attention to the progress of the proceedings and will study what action to take.”
Hamraoui’s injuries rendered her unavailable for PSG’s Champions League match against Real Madrid on Tuesday. She could have made her 100th appearance for the French club in their 4-0 win against the Spanish side.
Diallo was, however, a starter in Tuesday’s game. Hamraoui and Diallo are defensive midfielders, and they vie for the same position at both club and international level, ESPN reported. The two also play for the French national team.
Per L’equipe, the attack on Hamraoui stemmed from playing time.
