France striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto will miss the rest of Euro 2022 after suffering a serious knee injury, dealing a cruel blow to Les Bleues.

The 23-year-old scored in the opening 5-1 win against Italy but was forced out of Thursday's 2-1 victory over Belgium after sustaining a right knee problem early in the game.

Speaking after the game, France head coach Corinne Diacre said she believed Katoto's injury to be a sprain; however, tests on Friday showed it was significantly more serious.

Katoto has scored 26 goals in 32 internationals, and her form for club side Paris Saint-Germain marked her out as the team's most obvious match-winner.

She has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, pointing to a lengthy spell out of action for club and country.

A national team statement on the French Football Federation (FFF) website said: "Injured in the right knee, the striker of Les Bleues will not take part in the rest of Euro 2022 in England and will leave the group.

"Examinations carried out today confirm a sprained right knee with damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. She is made available to her club. The French women's team and the FFF wish her a good recovery."

Diacre left France's record scorer Eugenie Le Sommer out of her squad for the finals, which may come back to haunt the coach.

Already assured of a place in the quarter-finals, France conclude their group campaign against Iceland in Rotherham on Monday.

Paris Saint-Germain have suspended women's coach Didier Olle-Nicolle while the club investigate allegations of "inappropriate behaviour and remarks".

Olle-Nicolle took charge of PSG at the end of last season following their D1 Feminine title success.

PSG are second in the table this season, needing to beat title rivals Lyon in their penultimate game on Sunday to keep their slim championship hopes alive.

But preparations for that game have been overshadowed by allegations made relating to Olle-Nicolle that, the club say, "if confirmed, would be incompatible with the sporting and human values of Paris Saint-Germain".

A statement late on Tuesday read: "Paris Saint-Germain was informed today of inappropriate behaviour and remarks to which members of its women's team have allegedly been exposed.

"These facts and statements, if confirmed, would be incompatible with the sporting and human values of Paris Saint-Germain.

"Paris Saint-Germain takes the situation very seriously and intends to shed light on the facts and remarks reported.

"In this context and in order to preserve the interests of all stakeholders, the coach of the women's team has been put on leave today, by mutual agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.

"This measure is of a precautionary and temporary nature. It does not prejudge in any way the results of the internal investigation that will be conducted, nor the decisions that the club may have to take."

Paris Saint-Germain women's head coach Didier Olle-Nicolle has been suspended following allegations of "inappropriate behaviour and remarks".

The French club announced in a statement on Tuesday that Olle-Nicolle will not be involved in team duties while an internal investigation takes place.

Olle-Nicolle, 61, has been in charge since July 2021.

"Paris Saint-Germain has been made aware of inappropriate behaviour and remarks that members of its Women's Team have been exposed to," a PSG statement read.

"These remarks and events, if confirmed, would be incompatible with Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting and human values.

"Paris Saint-Germain is taking this situation seriously and intends to bring to light the reported events and remarks.

"In order to protect the interests of all parties, the coach of the Women's Team has been suspended today, in agreement with Paris Saint-Germain. 

"This is a fair and temporary measure. It will not prejudice the internal investigation that will be undertaken, nor impact the decisions that the club may be led to take."

PSG are second in the French top flight and host leaders Lyon, who are five points better off, in their penultimate game of the campaign on Sunday.

They won the French Cup earlier this month and also reached the last four of the Women's Champions League, where they were eliminated by eventual champions Lyon.

Barcelona have been praised by Lyon defender Selma Bacha for "helping European football evolve" after the sides booked their places in the Women's Champions League final.

Holders Barca saw their run of 45 successive wins come to an end in Saturday's 2-0 semi-final second-leg defeat to Wolfsburg, but they still advanced 5-3 on aggregate.

The Catalan club are into their third final in four seasons and will be looking to retain the trophy they won for a first time last year when they take on Lyon in Turin on May 21.

Lyon, who with seven titles are the most successful side in the competition's history, beat domestic rivals Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the second leg to win the tie 5-3 on aggregate.

That match at the Parc des Princes was watched by 43,254, a record for a women's club game in France.

Barca recently set the record for the highest attendance for a women's club game with 91,648 in attendance for the first leg of the Wolfsburg semi-final.

And Bacha believes Barca deserve huge credit for helping to lift the women's game both on and off the field.

"They are helping European football evolve. They play in a similar way to the men's team and are an example to the rest of women's football," she said.

"When you hear 'Barcelona versus Lyon in the final', it sounds great. I hope there are going to be a lot of fans who come. And we'll do all we can to win it."

 

Lyon have lost only three of their last 44 Women's Champions League matches and have only failed to score in one of their last 36 European games.

Ada Hegerberg opened the scoring for the French side on Saturday with a record-extending 58th goal in the Women's Champions League, and had another ruled out.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto gave PSG hope when scrambling in, but Wendie Renard made sure of progression for Lyon.

"We wanted to come to Paris in an attacking frame of mind," Lyon forward Hegerberg said. "The atmosphere was magnificent. It was a great evening of football. 

"We have to keep going as we are. It's not over, but it's great what we've done. I'm proud of the girls. It was tough. We're going to prepare for the final."

Eric Abidal has pleaded with wife Hayet to forgive him after she demanded a divorce and claimed the former Barcelona and France star confessed to an affair with Kheira Hamraoui.

Hamraoui is the Paris Saint-Germain footballer who was struck with an iron bar by masked attackers outside her home on November 4.

Police investigations into that attack are reported to have led to the discovery of a link between Hamraoui and Abidal, in the shape of a phone chip in Abidal's name being used by Hamraoui.

According to a widely referenced statement from Hayet Abidal's lawyer, Nicolas Cellupica, that was first released to the AFP news agency, the discovery of the phone chip prompted the former footballer to admit he had strayed.

The 42-year-old has now asked his wife to forgive him.

Hamraoui was a member of Barcelona's women's team when Abidal was director of football at the Spanish club from 2018 to 2020, and she moved to PSG in July of this year.

Abidal wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: "Hayet Abidal forgive me. Whatever your decision, you will remain 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. El hamdouli'allah. An sha' allah one day you will forgive me."

Hamraoui is recovering from the attack for which her PSG team-mate Aminata Diallo was initially considered a suspect.

Diallo has since been released without charge, having strenuously insisted she is innocent of any wrongdoing as police investigations continue.

Hamraoui has not made a public comment on the claims she and Abidal had a relationship.

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Aminata Diallo was released from police custody on Thursday, having been detained in connection with an alleged attack on one of her team-mates.

Versaille Police had arrested Diallo, 26, following an alleged incident last Thursday. The French club did not name the player who was said to have been attacked and are assisting police to "clarify the facts."

In their latest statement, PSG said: "Paris Saint-Germain notes the release of Aminata Diallo from police custody.

"The club continues to support its players to allow them to overcome this ordeal as soon as possible.

"Paris Saint-Germain reiterates its confidence in the justice system to shed full light on the events.

"The club would like to thank everyone for showing restraint and respecting the presumption of innocence as well as the privacy of the team."

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Aminata Diallo was taken into police custody on Wednesday over an alleged link to an attack on one of her team-mates.

PSG confirmed Diallo confirmed Versailles Police had arrested Diallo, 26, following an incident last Thursday.

The French club did not name the player who was attacked and are assisting police to "clarify the facts."

A club statement said: "Paris Saint-Germain can confirm that Aminata Diallo was taken into custody this morning by the Versailles Regional Police Service as part of the proceedings opened following an attack on the club's player last Thursday evening.

"Paris Saint-Germain condemns in the strongest possible terms the violence committed.

"Since Thursday evening the club has taken all necessary measures to guarantee the health, well-being and safety of its entire women's team.

"Paris Saint-Germain is working 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."

Paris Saint-Germain celebrated their maiden Division 1 Feminine title on Friday as Lyon's run of 14 consecutive league trophies came to an end.

Lyon had dominated the top tier of women's football in France, their stranglehold on the league dating back to 2007.

PSG had finished second on eight occasions during that period, but that changed thanks to a 3-0 home win over Dijon in their final game of the season.

French capital club PSG went into the final round a point clear atop the table following their goalless draw away to rivals Lyon in the penultimate fixture.

PSG got their hands on the trophy thanks to goals from Sara Dabritz, captain Irene Paredes and Jordyn Huitema, despite Lyon's 8-0 demolition of Fleury 91.

Olivier Echouafni's PSG went through the league campaign undefeated after 22 games, winning 20 matches, while scoring 83 goals and conceding just four times.

It is not the first time PSG have snapped a Lyon streak in 2020-21.

Lyon suffered their first Division 1 Feminine loss in four years, the club's incredible streak halted by PSG in November.

The dominant force of women's football in France and Europe, Lyon's 80-match unbeaten league run – which featured 75 wins – was ended following a 1-0 loss.

Not since December 2016 had Lyon tasted league defeat.

PSG also upstaged Lyon after extra time in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals this season.

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