A Scottish footballer has been sacked by his club after sexually assaulting a sleeping woman.
Airdrieonians terminated the contract of forward Salim Kouider-Aïssa after he was convicted of the attack on the 23-year-old at a flat in Kirkintilloch in October 2021.
The 27-year-old played in the first leg of the Diamonds’ Championship play-off final against Hamilton Academical last week, but was not in the squad for Saturday’s return meeting – which saw the club promoted to the second tier.
A court heard that Kouider-Aïssa stripped to his underwear in bed and touched the woman inappropriately during the incident, before going on to sexually assault her.
He claimed he thought she had given consent, but later told a friend: “I’ve f***ed it, I thought she was awake.”
Sheriff Matthew Jackson KC found him guilty of a single charge of sexual assault and scheduled sentencing for next month.
A short statement on the Airdrie website read: “The club has parted company with Salim Kouider-Aïssa with immediate effect.”
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