French woman suspected of attacking FC Lorient's Wissa

Investigators think the 32-year-old woman from the town of Vannes, near Lorient in western France, approached the footballer at his home on Thursday under pretence of seeking an autograph.

File image of Lorient's Yoane Wissa.

A French woman arrested at the weekend for abducting a baby is also suspected to be the person who threw corrosive liquid in the eyes of F.C. Lorient's Congolese forward Yoane Wissa, media reported.

Investigators think the 32-year-old woman from the town of Vannes, near Lorient in western France, approached the footballer at his home on Thursday under pretence of seeking an autograph, the news site Le Telegramme reported late on Monday.

She returned later at night intending to steal his partner's infant and sprayed his eyes with an acid-like liquid.

Wissa is stable after surgery on his eyes, sports newspaper L'Equipe said. It was unclear if his sight may be permanently impaired.

The day after going to Wissa's home, the woman targeted another couple, pretending to be a social worker and seizing their baby, the news outlets reported. She was arrested on Saturday, L'Equipe and Le Telegramme said.

Police declined to comment on the investigation, while Reuters could not immediately reach FC Lorient officials.

But in a statement after the attack, the Ligue 1 club expressed solidarity with the 24-year-old. "The club is in shock and wishes to show its support for Yoane and his family, and wish its player a speedy recovery," it said.

Investigators believe the woman wanted to steal a baby after a false pregnancy, the French media said. The infant she took was found safe when police made the arrest.