Former France International Ben Yedder Fined Over Psychological Violence Against Wife

Wissam Ben Yedder’s story has taken a sharp turn from the days when he was celebrated as one of the most reliable forwards in Ligue 1. His story has always been a little unusual. He came up through futsal, worked his way out of the French lower leagues, and eventually wore the captain’s armband at Monaco while also pulling on the France shirt. For years, he was judged by goals and reliability, the kind of forward who quietly racked up numbers without much fuss. Now, that picture has shifted. Instead of highlights on the pitch, it’s been court updates filling the headlines.

On September 3, 2025, a court in Nice ruled against the 35-year-old, finding him guilty of psychological violence against his estranged wife and issuing a heavy fine. Ben Yedder has made it clear he plans to appeal, but the decision only adds to the string of legal problems that have followed him in recent seasons. For a lot of fans, it’s a strange shift to take in. Not too long ago, Ben Yedder was talked about for his finishing and reliability in front of the goal. The striker, once praised for his sharp finishing, is being remembered less for football and more for the controversies away from it.

Ben Yedder Convicted and Fined in Nice Court

On September 3, 2025, the court in Nice ruled against Wissam Ben Yedder, finding him guilty of psychological violence towards his estranged wife. Prosecutors had initially asked for an eight-month suspended sentence and a €10,000 fine, but the judge went far beyond that. Ben Yedder was instead handed a €90,000 fine and told to pay another €60,000 in damages and legal fees. The former France striker, who built his career with Toulouse before spells at Sevilla and Monaco, wasn’t in the courtroom when the decision was read out. Through his lawyers, he’s already made it clear he intends to appeal. Even so, the verdict adds another line to a string of legal problems that have slowly been eating away at his reputation. For a player who sits second on Monaco’s all-time scoring list and once wore the national shirt, the headlines now feel very far removed from football.

Legal Troubles Continue to Mount for Former French Striker

For Ben Yedder, the headlines have stopped being about football for quite some time. This latest verdict is the latest in a string of cases that have followed him over the past few years. In 2023, he was given a suspended sentence in Spain for tax issues dating back to his time in Sevilla. A year later, in France, he was convicted of sexual assault and handed a two-year suspended jail term. On top of that, he and his brother Sabri are still under investigation in connection with an alleged rape case from 2023, which they both deny.

At 35, his career looks like it’s drifting. A short spell in Iran with Sepahan ended quietly, and he now finds himself without a club. For a striker once praised for his consistency and calm finishing, the story has turned. Instead of being remembered for goals in Ligue 1 or the Champions League, his name is now tied to courtroom updates. For Monaco fans especially, it’s a bitter turn that their former captain and second-highest scorer is being spoken about for everything but football.