Airdrie axe striker following sexual assault conviction

Airdrie have axed striker Salim Kouider-Aissa with immediate effect, after he was convicted of a sexual assault.

Salim Kouider-Aissa, 27, was found guilty of the single charge at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

A short statement issued by the club in the aftermath of the club's successful promotion to the Scottish Championship on Saturday read: “The club has parted company with Salim Kouider-Aissa with immediate effect.”

Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that Kouider-Aissa stripped to his underwear and got into a bed a friend’s flat in Kirkintilloch, before inappropriately touching the 23-year-old victim.

After a game at Alloa on Saturday, October 30, Kouider-Aissa went home before picking up friends and taking them to a friend’s flat, where they drank and listened to music.

The victim and another woman later joined the men at the flat.

It was revealed in court that the woman went to the flat-owner’s spare bed.

The forward claimed that he had got into the same bed to get a “good sleep”, after being told to stay on the living room couch, and believed the woman was awake and consenting.

Kouider-Aissa’s lawyer Graeme Brown will make his plea in mitigation at a sentencing hearing in June.

The former Queen's Park player was put on the sex offenders’ register and granted bail by Sheriff Matthew Jackson.

Kouider-Aissa played 24 times for Airdrie this season, scoring four goals. He made his final appearance for the club in a 1-0 win away at Falkirk on Saturday, May 13 and was an unused substitute during the play-off final first leg win over Hamilton Accies on May 17.

He was not included in the squad for Saturday's second leg, which Airdrie eventually won 6-5 on penalties to seal promotion.

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