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Former Utah Royals player Aminata Diallo arrested after attack on PSG teammate

Diallo joined the Royals on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in March 2020.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Royals FC midfielder Aminata Diallo takes the ball downfield as midfielder Shirley Cruz defends for Ol Reign FC, in soccer action between Utah Royals FC and Ol Reign FC at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020.

Paris • Paris Saint-Germain midfielder and former Utah Royals FC player Aminata Diallo has been taken into police custody in connection with an attack on one of her teammates, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The 26-year-old Diallo was arrested on Wednesday morning by Versailles police as part of an investigation into “an attack on the club’s players” last Thursday evening, PSG said in a statement.

The Versailles prosecutor’s office confirmed to The Associated Press that Diallo was taken into custody, and that Kheira Hamraoui had been attacked. No other details were given.

Hamraoui and Diallo are PSG teammates and the midfielders also play for France’s national team.

“Paris Saint-Germain condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence committed,” PSG said. “Since Thursday evening the club has taken all necessary measures to guarantee the health, well-being and safety of its entire women’s team.”

PSG added that it will work closely with the Versailles police to clarify the facts.

“The club is paying close attention to the progress of the proceedings and will study what action to take,” PSG said.

No other information was given, but several French media reports said Hamraoui was attacked following an evening out with Diallo and another teammate, who was not identified.

Broadcaster BFM TV reported that Diallo was driving them back when several people wearing masks attacked, and that Hamraoui was hit several times with a metal bar and needed stitches to her hands and legs.

Diallo started in midfield for PSG on Tuesday night in a 4-0 home win against Real Madrid in the group stage of the Champions League.

Diallo joined the Royals, who since relocated to Kansas City, on loan from PSG in March 2020. She played three games and started one in the 2020 National Women’s Soccer League Challenge Cup that summer, and scored a goal in the league’s Fall Series a few months later.

Hamraoui rejoined PSG in the offseason from Barcelona, which beat PSG in the Champions League semifinals in the spring.

Hamraoui previously played for PSG from 2012-16, the year Diallo joined from Guingamp.

Tribune writer Alex Vejar contributed to this report.