Former France and Barcelona defender Eric Abidal is to be questioned by police investigating an attack on Paris Saint-Germain footballer, Kheira Hamraoui. 

Another PSG player - Amanita Diallo - was arrested last week following an incident which saw two masked men take Hamraoui from a car before attacking her with iron bars.

Diallo's since been released without charge.

It had been believed that the attack was one based on sporting rivalry with Diallo competing for a place in the PSG side with summer signing Hamraoui.

However, Le Monde reported on Monday that the case was not about two players fighting it out for their manager's attentions, but rather those of Eric Abidal.

Investigators have established that Hamraoui's phone was in the name of the 67-times capped France defender.

Abidal has been married to former gymnast Hayet Abidal (née: Kebir) since 2003, and prosecutor for the Republic of Versailles has not ruled out calling upon her as a witness.

According to several PSG players, Hamraoui phoned Abidal the day after the attack.

Diallo and Hamraoui were travelling in the same car at the time of the attack, with the latter's legs and hands injured by iron bars. The attackers allegedly shouted, "Do you like that? Sleeping with married men??"

“Inconceivable and completely false” – Vaughan issues new racism denial