Fayza Lamari has been placed under the status of témoin assisté—or assisted witness—by investigating judges in France, according to reports from L’Équipe. This legal designation allows the mother of Kylian Mbappé to avoid formal indictment as the judicial inquiry into the activities of Mohamed Sanhadji, the former security chief for the French national football team, continues to unfold.
The Judicial Status of Fayza Lamari
The decision followed a hearing held last Friday involving three investigating judges. Under French law, the status of témoin assisté occupies a middle ground between that of a simple witness and a person formally placed under investigation, known as a mise en examen.
The Investigation into Mohamed Sanhadji
The broader case centers on Mohamed Sanhadji, who served as the security officer for the French national team between 2024 and 2026. In early September, authorities placed Sanhadji under formal investigation for a range of serious allegations, including corruption, influence peddling, embezzlement of public funds, and fraud. Investigators are examining claims that Sanhadji allegedly received various sums of money and gifts in kind from several French international players. Reports indicate that Kylian Mbappé, for instance, had provided 60,300 euros to Sanhadji, representing a portion of the player’s bonus from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Investigators are scrutinizing a trip to Cameroon taken by the star forward, during which he employed Sanhadji in a security capacity, to determine if the arrangement constituted private business for a serving police officer.
Witness Testimony and Public Figures
The investigation has expanded to include dozens of individuals questioned by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN). Among those reported to have been interviewed are prominent figures such as Franck Ribéry, former French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët, current federation president Philippe Diallo, and entertainer Jamel Debbouze. The inquiry remains active as the judiciary attempts to clarify the nature of the financial and professional relationships between the former security chief and the high-profile figures within the orbit of French football.
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