Court rules that Desailly is father of 25-year-old woman

A French court has ruled that former French international Marcel Desailly is the father of Aida Mendy, a 25-year-old lady who claimed he was her father.

This means Aida can now take on the last name of the ex-footballer.

The court went ahead with its ruling even though Desailly did not comply with a request to submit to a paternity test.

The judge is quoted as saying that by refusing to submit to a DNA test, Marcel Desailly had made “a paternity acknowledgment.”

Justice : la justice confirme que Marcel #Desailly est le père d'une fille de 25 ans – https://t.co/uoslXkW27E https://t.co/626skA0t1g

— Henri-Blaise N'damas (@achebe54) March 19, 2016

The former World Cup champion has refused four times to submit to the test which was requested by the court since 2012.

Aida Mendy’s mother Helene, reportedly started the process to get the ex-footballer to accept responsibility for her daughter as far back as 2000.

In March 2000, the court ruled that the former Desailly pays Helene maintenance allowance until Aida was of legal age.

The recent case according to Aida’s lawyer Frédéric Casanova, was to help her “put an end to 23 years of suffering,” reported Jeune Afrique.

Casanova said of the ruling: “It is the triumph of law against hypocrisy. Marcel Desailly tried to shirk his duties as a father.”

He said his client wants “nothing” from the decorated footballer other than the recognition of paternity.