On the sporting side he was sacked in 2020 as Barcelona’s Sporting Director after the disastrous 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League that season. Now according to reports out of Spain there is serious doubt regarding the circumstances of Abidal’s liver transplant back in 2012.

According to Marca, the National Institute of Toxicology assures that after various tests that there is no family lineage between the former Barcelona defender and his supposed cousin known as Gerard Armand. The information came to light following an article published in El Confidencial, where Abidal’s name is involved in an investigation looking into organ trafficking along with former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell and Juanjo Castillo.

Why is Eric Abidal being investigated for organ trafficking?

Abidal’s name is mixed up in the investigation since Spanish police began to look into the circumstances surrounding his liver transplant in 2012. The investigation began in 2017 where the police saw irregularities in the due process of the procedure that involved Abidal, the clinic, and Barcelona directors.

Rosell has spoken out regarding the allegations stating that he had nothing to do with the medical procedure or its due diligence that fell on the Clinic of Barcelona. “It cannot be asserted, in a reckless and tortuous manner as some media point out and which contradicts what the report itself indicates, that Armand and Abidal are not related in any way, since it has been proven that the tests carried out for this purpose are incomplete” was a quote from a statement in Rosell’s defense.

In an interview with the LaDépeche Gerard Armand stated “I never took a dime; all I did was donate an organ to save the life of a family member… I went to Barcelona to do a series of tests and analyses. They confirmed that my profile matched Abidal’s. The doctors decided to take a part of my organ. I remember signing papers before a judge in Barcelona. All of this was transparent.”

Armand ended by stating “I will answer all questions. I have nothing to hide. I just want them to leave us alone.”

While the message makes reference to their domestic issue, Hayet Abidal could face criminal charges as the mastermind behind the attack on Kheira Hamraoui. Aminata Diallo, who has since professed her innocence in the case through her lawyer stated that the masked men who beat Kheira Hamraoui made reference to sleeping with a married person’s husband and authorities have now set their sights on Hayet Abidal.

Diallo issued a statement through her lawyer stating, “Aminata Diallo deplores the perfectly artificial staging of a rivalry between her and Kheira Hamraoui that would justify her attack on her teammate. This theory does not correspond in any way to the true nature of their relationship.”

Eric Abidal’s message to wife Hayet Abidal

In his social media post Eric Abidal stated, “Hayet Abidal: forgive me. Whatever your decision, you will continue to be in my eyes the woman of my life, and especially the mother of our wonderful children. I deserve this humiliation even if it kills me alive. I hope that one day you will forgive me. I love you to the moon and back”.

It has been stated that Kheira Hamraoui and Eric Abidal’s relationship began when both were at Barcelona between the years 2018-2021. The case is ongoing but given that Hamraoui’s mobile phone chip was registered in Eric Abidal’s name, authorities suspect that the attack came from someone close to the Abidal family.

As it is reported by RT and AS, Hayet Abidal issued a statement after filing for divorce from the father of her five children Eric Abidal. The statement concludes that Eric Abidal had admitted to having an extra marital affair with Kheira Hamraoui.

The statement from Hayet Abidal’s lawyer also stated that they will clear up all the “rumors” of her client’s involvement in the attack against Hamraoui. Here is Hayet Abidal’s statement.

Hayet Abidal’s statement after filing for divorce from Eric Abidal

“Forced by circumstances and displeased by the Hamraoui case, Hayet Abidal will file for divorce in Barcelona. After the Prosecutor’s Office of Versailles announced on Monday night that the footballer’s phone chip was in the name of her husband Eric Abidal, he confessed that he had an adulterous relationship with Madame Hamraoui,”

Hayet Abidal was brought in for questioning by police earlier in the week after previous prime suspect Aminata Diallo admitted to police that the attacks were in fact planned by Hayet Abidal after she learned that her husband had an affair with Hamraoui.

Hamraoui, 31, was dragged out of Diallo’s car and was beaten on her hands and legs with metal bars and one of the attackers is reported by French media to have said, “you like to sleep with married men.” Eric Abidal’s legal team has yet to make a statement.

Following a club dinner, Hamraoui and Diallo left in the same car, which was suddenly intercepted by masked men who pulled both out of the car and hit Hamraoui with metal bars, producing injuries on her legs that required stitches.

The case has taken a twist now, as former BarcelonaandFrance national team playerEric Abidal will be questioned in the next few daysby the French police who carry the investigation.

Eric Abidal to be questioned by French police overattack on PSG Women’sKheira Hamraoui

Last week, it seemed like this was a case in which a player planned an attack on a teammate to steal her spot in the first team. But now the attention hasshockingly switched to Abidal.

Prosecutor Maryvonne Caillibotte told reporters on Monday he will be questioned as part of the ongoing investigation. Le Monde reports Abidal could be behind the attack as part of a revenge to Hamraoui, whom he dated in the past. Mundo Deportivo, however, claims Abidal denied any connection with thecase.

ESPN adds the police have tracked Abidal after noticing Hamraoui called him in the morning of the attack. It remains to be seen how this situation unfolds, but for now, Abidal will be required to answera series of questions as the investigation goes on.