A turbulent season for Paris Saint-Germain Women took another turn earlier this week when coach Didier Olle-Nicolle was suspended following allegations of “inappropriate conduct”.
In a statement, the club said the players were exposed to events which, “if proven”, would be “inconsistent” with PSG’s “sporting and human values”.
Meetings with players were held after a complaint was made public and Olle-Nicolle was subsequently suspended pending further investigation.
Details of the alleged incident were then reported in L’Equipe, with the French newspaper claiming that Olle-Nicolle “put a hand on the buttocks of one of his players”, with the manager later apologizing to the group for his “clumsiness”.
The news comes at the worst possible time as PSG face a competitive game against Lyon on Sunday. With two games left, they are five points behind the leaders.
PSG won the league to end Lyon’s 14-year dominance at the top of Division 1 Feminine last season – but their title defense has been hampered by scandals.
PSG women’s boss Didier Olle-Nicole has been suspended from his role amid allegations of “inappropriate conduct” which the French club are now investigating
It’s been a scandalous season for PSG Women, with drama ensuing since November when Kheira Hamraoui (second right) was attacked by masked men with iron bars
Midfielder Kheira Hamraoui was attacked and beaten by two masked men back in November.
Club and international Aminata Diallo, who was driving her home from a team dinner, was originally arrested on suspicion of orchestrating the attack, with the two players competing for the same position. Diallo was interrogated for 35 hours but later released without charge.
It then emerged that the SIM card in Hamraoui’s phone was registered to former Barcelona star Eric Abidal.
He was Barcelona’s sporting director from 2018 to 2020, during which time Hamraoui was with the women’s team.
Hamraoui, 31, (left) required stitches after a brutal attack on the night of November 4 – teammate Aminata Diallo, 26, (right) was initially arrested in connection with it
Police had been trying to determine if Diallo (left) had any connection to the attack, which left Hamraoui (right) with stitches – they later released her without charge in an episode that rocked PSG
Hamraoui was left with a laceration and severe bruises on his legs after the attack by masked men on 4 November
Abidal’s wife Hayet then issued a statement through her lawyers claiming her husband had admitted to an affair with Hamraoui and divorce proceedings had been started.
French sports newspaper The team Police released details of the attack, how Diallo Hamraoui drove to and from a team dinner in a club-provided Toyota Corolla and then dropped off another player – Sakina Karchaoui – before the attack began in Chatou, Yvelines.
“My attacker hit me several times with an iron bar. I saw that he was mainly aiming at my legs and I was trying to protect myself with my hands,” Hamraoui told police.
“I didn’t see a gun then. They immediately start yelling, “Open the door! Open the door!” The one on my side grabbed me and pulled me out of the vehicle.
“Before, he would grab a rectangular iron bar that he had hidden in his pants or under his sweater.
“He gave me an initial punch from the first moments of the attack to force me out of the dressing room. I fell onto the street and then onto the right side of the street.
The SIM card in Hamraoui’s phone turned out to be registered to Eric Abidal (left), pictured with his wife Hayet, and he admitted to having an affair with the player, sparking divorce proceedings
Abidal has been married to Ms Hayet (right) since 2003 and they have five children together
“The scene lasted several minutes, it seemed long to me. Aminata told me it was faster. I think the two people fled because cars were coming onto the street.
“They started running towards the traffic. We quickly lost sight of them. I think a car should be waiting for them nearby.”
Hamraoui also referred to hearing the phrase “They like to sleep with married men” during the attack, a detail confirmed by Diallo, who was “locked up” by the second stranger during the attack.
The news of Hamraoui’s attack came ahead of a game against Lyon. PSG’s request to postpone the game was denied. They were beaten 6-1.
In December, PSG held a reconciliation meeting between Hamraoui and Diallo where they agreed to play together again, but tensions remained high throughout the season.
In April, a crisis meeting was held between Hamraoui and Sandy Baltimore following a dispute at the training ground.
According to French outlet RMC Sportsthere was an altercation after Hamraoui made “negative comments” about Baltimore during a training session, with both players having to be separated.
The club were embroiled in scandal again in April when a report from RMC Sport detailed that Hamraoui (pictured) allegedly made remarks to team-mate Sandy Baltimore in training
Hamraoui is also said to have accused Kadidiatou Diani’s (pictured) husband of involvement in her attack in November, although Diani’s husband was never investigated
Hamraoui is said to have “complicated relationships” with Baltimore, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani.
A report from The New York Times suggested that Hamraoui has accused at least two other teammates of being involved in their attack and that she firmly believes the answers to the case rest with PSG.
Hamraoui also reportedly angered Diani by mentioning her husband as a potential suspect.
Diani’s husband has not been implicated or questioned by police but the PSG striker is said to have confronted Hamraoui about the allegation.
Diallo vehemently denied claims she had anything to do with the attack, calling it a “perfectly artificial dramatization.”
This incident happened before the second leg of PSG’s Champions League semi-final against Lyon.
And now, for the third time, a crisis has hit the club ahead of a crucial game against Lyon.
Olle-Nicolle’s ban is temporary but means PSG will be without a coach for the final two games of the season.
The club said: “Paris St-Germain takes this situation seriously and intends to bring to light the reported events and comments.”
Olle-Nicolle could not be reached for comment.
PSG were beaten 6-1 by title rivals Lyon after the emergence of the November scandal
The suspension of Olle-Nicolle on the eve of another game against Lyon is disastrous timing for PSG
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