Former Premier League soccer star Jelle van Damme is being investigated by police after being accused of stalking his ex-wife.
The 35-year-old, who played for Southampton and Wolves, has allegedly been harassing Elke Clijsters for almost three years. Van Damme married the 33-year-old in 2008, but the pair split in 2014 before their divorce in 2016.
And Elke, sister of tennis legend Kim, opened up on social media about what she has been going through. She has accused the Royal Antwerp star of sitting outside her house at night and even peering through her bedroom window.
“I’ve had to cope with a stalker for almost three years,” the post on her Instagram page read. “I thought about deleting my profile, but felt that he would have won had I done so. He created anonymous profiles, sent me messages, lied about me and told other people what a terrible person I am.
“He would sit in his car outside my house at night to see what I was up to, and who I brought home. He’d sneak into my back garden to peer through my bedroom window, and would ask my friends about me. He sent me messages saying my late father would be ashamed if he could see me, and a whole lot more. This has had a great emotional impact on me. I kept quiet for a long time and tried to cope with it.”I was sad and frightened, but angry as well. I asked myself what had I done wrong.”
It is now understood that the Belgian has made a formal complaint against Van Damme.
Prosecutors in Hasselt, eastern Belgium, confirmed the legal action against the soccer star, but refused to give more detail insisting it is “a delicate matter that concerns private lives.”
Van Damme is now playing for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian First Division following his switch from LA Galaxy last year.
He has also played for Standard Liege, Anderlecht, Ajax, Germinal Beerschot and for Werder Bremen on loan.