Contacted by AFP, the Versailles prosecutor said Monday that the former player "could be heard soon", stressing that this act of investigation fell within the competence of the investigating judge.

"If Eric Abidal is summoned as part of the investigation, of course he will come forward to answer all the questions that will be asked to him", reacted to AFP the lawyer of the vice-world champion, Olivier Martin.

His client, however, contests "with the greatest firmness" any involvement in the assault, insisted Mr. Martin.

The name of Eric Abidal appeared in the proceedings after investigators established a material link with Ms. Hamraoui: the victim was using a chip on his mobile phone in the name of the footballer.

On Monday, a judicial investigation was opened against X for "criminal association for the preparation of an offense punishable by at least five years" and "violence aggravated by three circumstances, followed by incapacity not exceeding eight days ", said the parquet floor of Versailles.

The aggravating circumstances are "the premeditation, the reunion and the weapon", Kheira Hamraoui having been hit with an iron bar.

"Track among others"

The facts date back to the evening of November 4.

Kheira Hamraoui, a 31-year-old French international, suffered an assault on returning, with her teammate Aminata Diallo, from a dinner organized by their club.

The player is "beaten on the legs with an iron bar" by two men who then fled, according to the prosecutor of Versailles.

Aminata Diallo witnessed the scene.

The hypothesis of a rivalry between PSG players was then considered.

Arrested, Aminata Diallo was taken into custody and then released thirty-six hours later last Thursday without any charge being brought against her.

"Aminata Diallo deplores the perfectly artificial staging of a rivalry between her and Kheira Hamraoui which would justify her attacking her teammate," said her lawyer Mourad Battikh, sweeping the hypothesis of a lookout -apens orchestrated by his client to take advantage of an injury to Kheira Hamraoui who is evolving in the same position as her.

The name of Eric Abidal, former defender of Olympique Lyonnais and FC Barcelona, ​​then sporting director of the Catalan club from 2018 to 2020, also appeared in the proceedings.

Kheira Hamraoui played in the Catalan club's women's team from 2018 to 2021.

Former footballer Eric Abidal at a press conference to introduce Dutch player Frenkie de Jong upon his arrival at FC Barcelona on July 5, 2019 LLUIS GENE AFP / Archives

According to a source familiar with the matter, Kheira Hamraoui told investigators that her cell phone chip was "in the name of her ex".

Investigators have established that Eric Abidal was the holder.

The hypothesis of a revenge in love with the entourage of Mr. Abidal is only "one track considered among others", held to explain the parquet floor of Versailles, estimating that "nothing is founded" but not excluding however, not the possibility that the wife of Mr. Abidal, Hayet Abidal, is also heard.

For his part, Me Olivier Martin did not wish to make "any comment" on the nature of the relationship between his client and Ms. Hamraoui.

© 2021 AFP