Said Chaaban, the owner of the French football club Angers and former president, was sentenced to two years in prison, one of which is a suspended sentence, for sexually harassing six employees. The trial took place in western France, where he was charged with sexual harassment "committed by a person who exploits the authority granted to him by his position." The 59-year-old man of Algerian origin, who denied the allegations, benefited from the "presumption of innocence" regarding a seventh case due to insufficient evidence for his conviction. Chaaban's lawyers stated they will appeal the verdict.
Chaaban previously steered Angers to return to the French top division in 2015 after a two-decade absence. He describes himself as a man who "started from nothing," a "demanding" and "decisive" businessman, but claimed he never had a "dominant" relationship with his employees. The club he has owned since 2011 was relegated to the second division at the end of the 2022-2023 season, and he handed over the presidency of the club to his son Romain in March 2023. The prosecution had requested a three-year sentence for Chaaban, one of which would be suspended, due to the "unacceptable" behavior endured by the women over the years.
