Karim Benzema has been charged with conspiracy to
blackmail France team-mate Mathieu Valbeuna over an
alleged sex tape.
The criminal case came to light on October 13 when ex-
France forward Djibril Cisse was among four people being
questioned by police.
Valbuena later defended Cisse – who denied any
involvement in the attempt to extort money from his former
Marseille colleague and was released without charge – by
suggesting the 34-year-old "conducted himself as a friend
by trying to help me".
The scandal, which is reported to have started in June,
unravelled further on Wednesday when it emerged that
Benzema had been arrested in France.
The Real Madrid striker's lawyer, Sylvain Courmier, insisted
"he has done absolutely nothing wrong” and is confident he
could “finally put an end to this painful controversy", but on
Thursday he was charged by Versailles police.
Respected news agency AFP claim a source in the
investigation admitted Benzema approached Valbuena "on
behalf of [Karim's] childhood friend" who had previously
been contacted regarding the sex-tape extortion.
Benzema's lawyer subsequently told reporters: "Karim has
shown he is of good faith. He's played no part in blackmail.
His friend Valbuena is in his prayers."
IF FOUND GUILTY, WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO BENZEMA?
At this point it has to be stressed that Benzema has not
been convicted of anything and he remains innocent until
proven guilty.
But, should the 27-year-old be convicted of the charge of
complicity in attempting to blackmail Valbuena, he could
face a maximum prison sentence of five years.
In the meantime, Benzema is forbidden from meeting with or
contacting the Lyon attacking midfielder, who is yet to
comment on the latest revelations in the blackmail case.
He has returned to Madrid with the judge having chosen not
to confiscate his passport.
IS THIS WHY HE WASN'T SELECTED FOR FRANCE'S LATEST
SQUAD?
Benzema's exclusion from Didier Deschamps' squad –
announced minutes after he was charged by French
prosecutors – for the matches against Germany and
England was always expected.
The striker has not featured for Real Madrid since sustaining
a hamstring injury in the October international break as
France defeated Armenia 4-0, a game in which he scored
twice prior to his substitution.
"Karim is injured and therefore not in the squad,"
Deschamps told reporters on Thursday. "Regarding the
recent events, I don't know all the details of the case, but I
have little doubt justice will do its job."
Valbuena's exclusion is more contentious. The 31-year-old
is not injured and has played eight times for France in 2015,
but Deschamps said: "He is not in the best condition
psychologically. I have taken the decision to give him some
rest."
BENZEMA'S HAD RUN-INS WITH THE LAW BEFORE, HASN'T
HE?
Yes, Benzema has a colourful history with the judicial
systems in France and Spain.
In January 2014, Benzema and Bayern Munich winger
Franck Ribery were acquitted in Paris of soliciting an
underage prostitute.
Benzema always denied allegations he had engaged in
sexual relations with Zahia Dehar in 2008, while Ribery
admitted he had engaged in intercourse with the same girl
but denied knowing her age.
The case judge ruled there was not enough proof that the
France duo were aware Ms Dehar was not 18 years old –
the legal age of consent with a prostitute in Germany and
France
More recently, Cadena SER reported that Benzema was
stopped by police on October 29 in Spain for committing an
illegal turn and was in turn accused of driving without a valid
licence.
Marca claim the traffic violation has been fast-tracked and
Benzema will stand trial on November 23 at 10:00 CET.
Two years ago, Benzema had his licence suspended and
was fined €18,000 for speeding, and six months ago he was
punished for the same offence en route to Madrid's Barajas
airport.
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