June 26, 2024

40 minutes

Available for over a year

New episodes released on Wednesdays. If you’re in the UK, listen to Sport’s Strangest Crimes first on BBC Sounds. bit.ly/3DbxNzh

French international footballer Kheira Hamraoui is in shock after being dragged from the car of her PSG team-mate Aminata Diallo, and then having her legs beaten black and blue by a masked man. But who did it? And who planned it? And why?

Diallo goes unscathed during the attack, and takes her injured team-mate's place in the team to face Real Madrid in the Champions League. Playing a key role in a comprehensive 4-0 win life seems good for Diallo, with the extended run she'd craved now looking very likely. Until 6am the following morning that is - and an unexpected visit from the police.....

Diallo goes from a rocking, euphoric Parc des Princes to a miserable, foul-smelling cell at Versailles jail in a matter of hours. With echoes of the infamous fall out between American ice skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, the world's media pick up on the story, and two relatively little known footballers are about to acquire the worst possible notoriety.

Professional rivalry, jealousy, the desire to take a team-mate's place for both club and country is considered as a motive. But the players' private lives also come under scrutiny and investigators unearth a secret affair between Hamraoui and a married male ex-French football superstar, which becomes public knowledge – and with devastating consequences.

As Diallo is released without charge, but not without suspicion, Hamraoui is now subject to the full glare of media scrutiny and online judgement and abuse. Her personal nightmare is only just beginning.

Narrator Maisie Adam

Interviews: Charlotte Harpur and Tom Williams

Voices for interviewees performed by: Janine George, Chyna Johnson, Tom Roberts and Colin Ryan

Script consultant: Dave Bowler

Researchers: Rob Carroll and Janet Hughes

Assistant Producer: Jennifer Hanratty-Ball

Editor: Kevin Hinde

Assistant Commissioner for the BBC: Lizzi Doyle

Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton

Executive Producer: Craig South

Writer and Producer: Jonathan Sides

A PDI Media production for BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5Live