Ligue 1 Boss Denies Sexually Assaulting Female Staff

Story By: Joseph GolderSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency:  Golder’s News And Sport

The president of Ligue 1 side Angers who was arrested this morning accused of sexually assaulting female employees of the club has denied the allegations in a statement.

The club’s statement also confirmed to French media that president Said Chabane had indeed been arrested and detained by the authorities for questioning this morning, information that had initially been reported by RMC and FranceInfo.

The statement from the club says (in French), among other things: “Said Chabane formally challenges all the allegations brought against him and will provide the authorities with all the elements allowing to restore the truth and to preserve his honour. Determined to have his innocence recognised, he is confident in the outcome of the investigation which he is cooperating with fully.”

Picture Credit: Golders

The full statement has been published in French media and reads in full (in French):

“The management of Angers SCO confirms that President Said Chabane went to the premises of the Angers police services on Wednesday 5th February, in response to a summons received in late January. In accordance with the rules of the procedural code, he is currently being heard in police custody in the context of an investigation opened by the Angers prosecutor following the complaint of an employee of the club.

“Said Chabane formally challenges all the allegations brought against him and will provide the authorities with all the elements allowing to restore the truth and to preserve his honour. Determined to have his innocence recognised, he is confident in the outcome of the investigation which he is cooperating with fully.

“While the club’s management regrets leaks of fragmented and oriented information (which appeared in the press in violation of the secrecy of the investigation and in violation of the respect for the presumption of innocence), the teams and the players remain fully mobilised in the achievement of the SCO’s objectives.

“All the components of the club are mobilised for the reception of LOSC [Lille OSC, 4th in the Ligue 1] on Friday, 7th February 2020 at 8.45 p.m. at the Raymond-Kopa stadium.”

Picture Credit: Golders

The president of Ligue 1 side Angers has been accused of aggravated sexual assault by female employees of the club and was detained this morning. Chabane is the subject of a complaint for aggravated sexual assault and sexual harassment. The news has surfaced today (Wednesday) “from a source close to the investigation”, according to FranceInfo, which appears to confirm RMC’s report.

A complaint was filed by a female employee of the club in January and this triggered an investigation by the Angers prosecutor’s office.

According to the RMC radio station, Chabane allegedly had other victims too. There are reportedly two more victims that have been identified so far. The three women are between 25 and 35 years old and have not been named due to strict local privacy laws. They are all either employees of the club or former employees.

According to the radio station, the three women all tell the same story. They allege that he rubbed himself against their bodies, touched their bottoms, their breasts, and their private parts, without their consent.

The “aggravated sexual assault” comes from the fact that Chabane is (or was) the alleged victims’ hierarchical superior at the club.

Chabane, 55, has been president of Angers SCO, which he also owns, since 2011, and they currently sit 13th in the French Ligue 1. Angers is a city in France in the Maine-et-Loire department south-west of Paris.

Chabane was born in Alger, the capital of Algeria and moved to France when he was 23. He bought Angers SCO in 2011 for 1.7 million EUR (1.4 million GBP). A businessman in the food trade, he is known to run his club like his businesses: rigorously.

Under his leadership, Angers have performed well in Ligue 1, even making it to the French Cup final in 2017.

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