Eric Abidal to be questioned in relation to Kheira Hamraoui assault

Former Barcelona and France defender Eric Abidal is set to be the next person questioned in relation to the assault on PSG Feminine midfielder Kheira Hamraoui earlier this month.

Hamraoui, who is in her second spell with PSG after returning to the club from Barcelona in summer, was treated in hospital for injuries to her hands and legs after it was alleged that two masked man dragged her from a car and attacked her with an iron bar.

The car was being driven by teammate Aminata Diallo following a team outing in Paris. Diallo was initially arrested and questioned on suspicion of having some sort of involvement in the attack but was released without charge 36 hours later.

Now, French newspaper Le Monde has revealed that investigators wish to speak to Abidal over the matter. It is said that Hamraoui’s phone was registered in the retired left-back’s name, seemingly ‘confirming the privileged links’ between them, the report claims.

Authorities have also not ruled out speaking to Abidal’s wife, Hayet, at this stage.

It has been alleged in this increasingly bizarre saga that the attackers said during the assault, ‘So like that, we sleep with married men?’. It is also alleged that Hamraoui phoned Abidal the day after the attack, which took place on 4 November.

Abidal was Barcelona sporting director from 2018 to 2020, which also happened to coincide with Hamraoui's time at the club as part of the women's team squad.

Le Monde contacted Abidal’s lawyer about the development, who confirmed that they had spoken to the 2011 Champions League winner but refused to make a statement at this time.

Hamraoui is a three-time Champions League winner in her career, having also spent time at Lyon before joining Barcelona in 2018. She has been a France international since 2012 and represented her country at the 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.