Former France striker Wissam Ben Yedder has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence for assault while drunk

Former France international Wissam Ben Yedder has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of sexual assault.

Ben Yedder stood trial last month after being accused of assault while intoxicated.

Prosecutors had asked for a prison sentence of two years and six months, with 18 months suspended.

Ben Yedder’s lawyer, Marie Roumiantseva, told the Associated Press that the footballer had been given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

The footballer has also been ordered to pay damages of €5,000.

His driver’s license has also been suspended for six months.

Ben Yedder, a former striker from Toulouse, Seville and Monaco, can appeal the verdict.

He was accused of driving a young woman, born in 2001, into an underground car park, trying to masturbate in front of her and touching her thigh, as reported by RMC Sport.

His defense emphasized that the accusation of touching the woman’s thigh is “not a serious offence.”

He was arrested in a ‘state of intoxication’ between the night of Friday, September 6 and the early hours of Saturday morning.

Ben Yedder said during the trial that he was so drunk he could not remember any sexual assault.

Since his arrest, Ben Yedder has reportedly attended Alcoholics Anonymous and admitted that he “hopes to cure himself of the situation.”

“I’m doing my best,” said the former France international. ‘Stopping for good is the best solution to heal myself. I have always pointed it out and I have always been there when the justice department spoke to me.’

He also visited a ‘specialized psychologist’.

Ben Yedder was not present at Nice Criminal Court for his sentencing.

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

Ben Yedder denies the accusation.

He is also due to appear in court in December after his wife accused him of psychological violence during their divorce proceedings.

Ben Yedder made 19 appearances for the French national team, scoring three goals, with his last appearance coming in June 2022.

During spells with Toulouse, Sevilla and Monaco, the currently clubless striker scored 259 goals in 513 games.