Former Ligue 1 footballer Daniel Congre was hospitalised after reportedly being found with serious stab wounds close to his heart.
Congre, who played for Toulouse, Montpellier and Dijon during his career, was rushed to hospital after suffering the injury on Monday evening.
His wife had called the emergency services, with initial reports stating the 40-year-old had been found unconscious at their home in the town of Perols.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported that Congre, who is now a sports coordinator at Ligue 1 club Lyon, had actually been conscious when emergency services arrived.
The newspaper quoted the emergency response as mentioning ‘a knife deliberately planted in the heart’ in their report of the incident.
The Montpellier prosecutor’s office officially mentioned a ‘suicide attempt’, although Congre was not officially named. An investigation is ongoing.
Former defender Daniel Congre was hospitalised following stab wounds close to his heart
A neigbour has disputed an initial police report which had mentioned a ‘suicide attempt’
‘The victim’s life is not in danger,’ a police source told L’Equipe. ‘The intervention of a third party seems to be excluded.
‘We are awaiting the doctors’ conclusions regarding the nature of the injury and its severity.’
The defender, his wife and children had reportedly visited their neighbours on Monday ahead of the incident.
Their neighbour, speaking to L’Equipe, insisted the claim of a suicide attempt was ‘completely false’.
‘Everyone is fine, they were at my house last night (Monday night), Daniel , his wife, and his children.
‘Everything that has been said is completely false, I won’t tell you anything more.
‘He was hospitalised, but not for the reasons given.’
Lyon have yet to publicly comment on Congre’s hospitalisation following the request of his family.
Congre currently works as a sporting coordinator at Lyon following a lengthy playing career
Congre officially joined Lyon as a sports coordinator last November, shorty after his retirement.
The former defender is best known for his time at Montpellier, where he made 325 appearances in all competitions.
He also made 227 appearances for Toulouse.
For support for anyone at risk of suicide, contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org