French Police Interrogate Former Player of Armenia’s National Team

Paris St Germain goalkeeper Apoula Edima Bete Edel, accused by former coach Nicolas Philibert of falsifying his identity and age, said he was “innocent” after being called in by French police for questioning Wednesday, AFP reports.

After six hours of interrogation, the Armenian-Cameroonian footballer told the press he “had done nothing wrong.” “I am simply giving a testimony, it’s normal; everything went well and it will soon end,” he said before getting into his BMW.

Edel is a dual citizen of Cameroon and Armenia, who played for Yerevan’s FC Pyunik from 2002–2005. Between 2004–2005, he played in 6 matches in Armenia’s national team.

The accusations against Edel began as early as 2009, when Philibert claimed Edel is in fact five years older than 24 and named Ambroise Beyaména. Philibert claims he coached Edel in Cameroon, lending him money and helping him move to Armenia. Edel has refuted all claims.

His former coach, however, continues to insist that Edel changed his identity prior to being transferred to FC Pyunik in Yerevan, Armenia.

According to the football player’s lawyer, Christophe Bigot, “From the beginning, he had all his original documents from Cameroon” proving his identity, adding that Edel has filed a complaint against Philibert for “blackmail and extortion of funds.”

The attorney said the case will be sent to the General Prosecutor’s office in Versailles, which can either dismiss the case without further action or open a judicial inquiry and call Edel before the court.

In January, a Paris court rejected the PSG goalkeeper’s libel suit against Philibert.

Note, though his contract with Pyunik hadn’t expired, Edel left the Armenian club in 2005 for Romania’s Rapid Bucureşti. FC Pyunik Yerevan filed a complaint against the player and Rapid with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, which ruled in favor of the appellant and mandated both Rapid and Edel to pay compensation.

At Rapid Bucureşti, Edel has played only 9 matches since UEFA has prohibited him from playing during the trial. After the trial, the player was moved to Paris St Germain.

Football Federation of Armenia Ruben Hayrapetyan, at a press conference in February, said he intends to speak with Edel, hoping to convince him to return and play for the Armenian national team.