A French Ligue 1 player was arrested after he was reported to the police for masturbating in public.
22-year-old Farid El Melali, who plays for Angers, was seen masturbating in the courtyard of his flat as he watched a woman on the ground floor through her window, according to ESPN.
The club and the police have since confirmed the player’s arrest and he is being charged with sexual exhibition.
The woman’s neighbours, who noticed the Algerian international’s actions called the police to the scene at 10:50 pm local time, on Monday.
This is reportedly the second time El Melali has been arrested for the same offence.
His lawyer, Sandra Chirac Kollarik said in an interview with the local newspaper that her client was “was not targeting anyone and was not aggressive towards anyone.”
El Melali, however, is reported to have admitted his “inappropriate attitude” when questioned by the police.
He will now “face trial in terms of an appearance prior to an admission of guilt.”
El Melali signed for Angers in 2018 and has since played 28 times for the club.
On Monday Angers announced that he had signed a new deal that will keep him at the club till 2023.
