The 49-year-old man dangled a career for his victims to gain their trust and that of their loved ones.

The trial of a former football coach from the Paris region, accused of a series of rapes and sexual assaults committed between 2003 and 2018 on several minors, opened on Tuesday morning at the Paris Assize Court.

The debates will take place for two weeks behind closed doors, at the request of the civil parties.

In pre-trial detention since February 2019, Ahmed G. is accused of "rape and sexual assault by a person in authority" on minors under the age of 15 and attempts, "sexual proposals by electronic means" and "corruption of minors".

His alleged victims are 13 football fans of African origin, most of them under the age of 15 at the time of the events, whom he trained in clubs in the Paris region.

Nine of them are involved in acts of rape or sexual assault.

Verdict expected on March 11

The facts alleged against the coach took place in his vehicle or at his home, in particular during trips for training, matches or other football-related events.

Sexual exchanges by messaging with some young people were found during the investigation.

This Monday, on the eve of the trial, the lawyers of four civil parties recalled that this file "confirms that sexual violence in sport is a national problem".

"Too many children are still victims of malicious people, who take advantage of their dreams to abuse them", they added in a press release, these "exactions (...) are the tip of the iceberg and many victims did not have the strength to speak”.

The much-awaited verdict should be delivered on March 11.

Miscellaneous facts

Sexual violence in football: Ahmed G., coach and recruiter, suspected of raping minors

Miscellaneous facts

Child pornography: An agent of the French Embassy in Senegal arrested and remanded in custody

  • Soccer

  • Minor

  • Rape

  • Trial

  • sexual assault

  • Justice

  • Paris

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