Eric Abidal has begged his wife Hayet for forgiveness after it emerged she wants a divorce following allegations he had a relationship with PSG women's footballer Kheira Hamraoui
Former Barcelona defender Eric Abidal has begged his wife Hayet for forgiveness after it emerged she wants a divorce following allegations he had a relationship with Paris Saint-Germain women's footballer Kheira Hamraoui.
The link between Abidal and Hamraoui was said to have come to light earlier this month as investigators tried to learn who was behind a mysterious recent attack on the PSG women's star.
Hamraoui's legs were beaten after she was dragged out of a car with her team-mate Aminata Diallo. Hamraoui appealed to the media to respect her privacy after police discovered she was using a telephone SIM card registered in Abidal's name on the night of the attack.
In a statement last week, Hayet Abidal's lawyers insisted she is 'going to file a divorce request' in Barcelona.
The statement claimed that Abidal 'admitted to his spouse' that he had an affair with Hamraoui after French prosecutors in the Paris suburb of Versailles announced the SIM card link.
Abidal, a household name in France, was Barcelona's sporting director from 2018 to 2020, during which time Hamraoui was playing with the Spanish club's women's team.
During his playing career Abidal won four LaLiga titles and the Champions League twice with Barcelona. He also played for Lyon, winning Ligue 1 three times, and earned over 60 caps for France.
Abidal's wife Hayet (right), pictured here with her husband, is filing for divorce
The Abidals, who know each other from their native Lyon in southeast France, have been married since 2007 and have four daughters and a son.
In a desperate plea to win back his wife on Tuesday, Abidal posted a picture of him looking upset on Instagram alongside the caption: 'Hayetabidal forgive me.
'Whatever your decision, you will remain in my eyes the woman of my life, and especially the mother of our wonderful children.
'I deserve this humiliation even though it kills me alive. Thank God, God willing one day you will forgive me. #loveyoutothemoonandback.'
The attack on Hamraoui and its aftermath sent shockwaves through PSG, with her and Diallo considered friendly rivals for midfield positions.
Diallo, who was not injured in the attack, was held for questioning for nearly 35 hours earlier this month before being released without charge.
Hamraoui's team-mate Aminata Diallo (left) denies organising the assault after originally being arrested by French police - she was released from custody
