A former French soccer star, Wissam Ben Yedder, is trying to revive his stalled playing career by taking a job in Iran after almost a year on the sidelines for sexually assaulting a woman—an offense that one would think would block him from playing for a team in Iran, where the state insists that athletes should be good examples.
Ben Yedder, who was unwanted by French teams after repeated run-ins with the law, signed a deal with five-time Iranian champion Sepahan, the Esfahan-based club announced. The terms of their agreement were not disclosed.
Ben Yedder was born in France of Tunisian parents.
Ben Yedder scored 16 goals with three assists in the French soccer league last season to help Monaco finish second behind Paris Saint-Germain. In five seasons with Monaco, he scored 118 times in 201 appearances in all competitions to become the club’s second-highest scorer in history.
Ben Yedder also played for Toulouse in France and Spanish club Sevilla from 2016-19.
The striker has had repeated run-ins with the law, mainly over sexual offenses—but that did not make him anathema in the Islamic Republic.
In April 2023, Ben Yedder was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and fined 133,799 euros ($145,000) for tax offences while a Sevilla player. After a 2019 request, he paid his taxes for 2017, but did not include interest received or his sponsorship deal from Adidas.
On August 11, 2023, prosecutors in Nice charged Ben Yedder and his brother with rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault in relation to an alleged incident involving two women.
Last year, Ben Yedder was charged with another sexual assault by prosecutors in Nice. On November 12, he was given a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of drunk driving, sexual assault, and refusal to co-operate with authorities. He was ordered to pay 6,500 euros ($7,000) in damages and a 5,000-euro ($5,400) fine, and his driving license was suspended for six months.
