Show Notes
Maisie Adam continues the shocking story of a brutal attack at Paris Saint-Germain that turned close team-mates into bitter rivals, damaging lives, careers and reputations. The fragile harmony in the dressing room is finally and irrevocably broken with a training ground bust-up that has repercussions for the team in the Champions League. And pushes the embattled Kheira Hamraoui to breaking point. Meanwhile head coach Didier Olle-Nicolle who has continued to select Hamraoui for the team despite external pressures to drop her, finds himself at the centre of serious allegations of sexual misconduct involving a young PSG player. Suspended by the club while a formal investigation takes place a horrified and shocked Olle Nicolle must fight to clear his name. The claims against him are subsequently proved untrue and without any basis whatsoever but its a harrowing time for him, describing himself as “collateral damage” in the latest fall-out from the Diallo-Hamraoui affair. The two players themselves are both about to experience summers of discontent. For Diallo its the end of the road at PSG, a new contract failing to materialise. While for Hamraoui it soon becomes apparent she faces an uncertain, and for her an unhappy future at the club. There appears to be no end to her trials and tribulations. As the 2022/23 season starts Hamraoui is in near exile at the club, training alone away from the first team. For Diallo though she is effectively now unemployed, without a club, at the age where she should be approaching her peak playing days. But that is not the worst of her troubles. Because on the 16th September 2022 there's another knock at her door from the poilce and this time they have statements and wiretaps to back up their suspicions. She's arrested again – and this time charges will be made. Narrator Maisie Adam Interviews: Charlotte Harpur and Tom Williams Voices for interviewees performed by: Janine George, Chyna Johnson, Tom Roberts and Colin Ryan Translation for the Aminata Diallo interview: Laura Bennett 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 5 Live.
More from Sport's Strangest Crimes
820 days after the stabbing, Monica Seles makes her return to tennis - but how can she compete with the best in the world after more than two years away from the sport? Never one to live within other people’s expectations, Monica makes a remarkable return - everyone is left wondering, how is she doing this? But nothing in private is ever as it seems in public, and Monica continues to fight a secret battle within her own mind. One that will put her back in the harsh glare of the media spotlight. More than thirty years on since she was attacked by a fixated fan of her main rival, Steffi Graf, we look at how much has changed for female tennis players today, and what has been learned about why people stalk. The crime against Monica Seles left a lasting impression, not just on tennis, but on sport in general. It changed not only tennis history, but how security is managed at all live sporting events forevermore. But Monica Seles has a legacy beyond this one act of violence and tennis stars such as Novak Djokovic reflect on her lasting impact on the game itself. Are legends made from more than titles alone? Warning: This episode contains references to eating disorders. Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton
On paper, Monica Seles was expected to return to winning ways in just a few short months; this shocking crime would be a dark chapter that tennis would be keen to forget. So, why did months turn to a year, one year into two? Why was everyone left wondering - where is Monica Seles? We explore one of the strangest elements of this crime - Seles’ fight for justice, and how she seemed to be the only one suffering any consequences for the crime that befell her. We’ll hear from one of the few people that spoke to Seles when she disappeared from public life, revealing the true torment she was living with after her physical wounds had healed. Plus, how using food for comfort had given way to something more insidious; something that would prove to be one of the toughest opponents to beat. After so long away from the game, was a comeback beyond the realms of possibility even for a record breaker like Monica? Her story had been hijacked on that dark day in Hamburg, but was there another chapter yet to be written? Warning: This episode contains references to eating disorders. Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton
As police question the attacker, the strange motive for this appalling crime is revealed - sending another shockwave through the world of tennis and beyond. We learn more about the man who attacked Monica Seles, and a worrying obsession comes to light - exposing the frightening reality that female players have been navigating behind the scenes. We hear about how something innocent can turn into something dangerous; how fandom can become fixation. Time remains suspended for one of its best players, but the multi-million dollar world of women’s tennis keeps on turning. More revelations plunge Seles into further darkness - but she is a player famed for her fighting spirit. Will she be free when justice is served? Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence. Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton
After three years, women’s tennis had a new number one. Monica Seles was riding high on a wave of success; out of the last nine Grand Slams, she had played eight finals, and won seven of them. But from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. We’ll hear about the moment that changed everything - for her, and for the world of women’s tennis. Those who were there describe the shocking scenes that left them stunned, and we hear from those whose job it was to manage the aftermath of such a public act of violence. As the news spreads, waves of shock are sent rippling out across the world, and questions abound; how badly hurt is Monica Seles? How could this happen? Who is her attacker? And why would he want to try and kill a teenage tennis player? Theories emerge, but one person has a hunch about the possible motive; her biggest rival, Steffi Graf. Warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence. Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton
Steffi Graf had been world number one for 3 years; it seemed like nobody could challenge her supremacy. But then along came a teenage girl from Yugoslavia, whose aggressive style - that came with grunting to match - challenged Graf’s dominance as well as the status quo. Finally, there was a contender. Clare Balding takes us through the most exciting moments in this emerging rivalry, as well as the darkness that swirled behind the scenes. How Seles’ record breaking was sidelined for her breaking of etiquette, and what it was like for young girls like her who found themselves in the very adult world of elite tennis in the 90s. In the age of the indomitable Steffi Graf, what made people think that Seles could be the greatest player the women’s game had ever seen? And what put both players on a collision course that would end with one of them in hospital? Presented by Clare Balding Produced by Emma Roberts Additional reporting by Russell Fuller Mixed by Gareth Isles Executive Producer: Joe Haddow Assistant Commissioner: Rob Green Commissioning Executive: Stevie Middleton