Former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Kheira Hamraoui has filed a €3.5 million compensation claim against the club, alleging she was subjected to moral harassment and abandoned professionally after being violently assaulted in 2021.
The case was heard on Monday at the Paris employment tribunal in a session that drew significant public and media interest. The French international was attacked in November 2021 by two masked men wielding an iron bar as she returned from a team dinner.
Her teammate Aminata Diallo was initially detained and later charged with orchestrating the assault, though she denies any wrongdoing. Following the incident, Hamraoui claims her relationships within the team deteriorated sharply.
Her lawyer, Pascal-Pierre Garbarini, argued that several PSG players failed to support her during the aftermath. He cited incidents on the field where senior forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani allegedly refused to pass her the ball, contributing to a hostile team environment.
He said Hamraoui was “ostracized” both on and off the pitch, facing jeers, hostile banners in the stands, and waves of online harassment. Garbarini outlined damages reflecting emotional suffering, security failures, diminished career opportunities and the club’s alleged inaction.
The total amount requested includes €1 million for moral harassment, €173,400 for insufficient security measures, and additional sums for moral prejudice and lost professional prospects.
PSG’s lawyer, Benjamin Louzier, rejected the accusations, calling the €3.5 million demand excessive and equivalent to more than 20 years of the player’s net salary.
Louzier argued that Hamraoui never submitted a formal complaint to the club, nor did she notify the employees’ council about alleged harassment. He also questioned the absence of medical certification documenting psychological harm.
The hearing unfolded just hours before another high-profile dispute involving former PSG star Kylian Mbappé, who is seeking damages from the club in a separate employment case. The tribunal’s decisions in both matters are expected to carry significant implications for how major football institutions manage internal disputes.
A ruling in Hamraoui’s case is expected in mid-December, potentially marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over player welfare and accountability within elite women’s football.