Breaking Football News: Karim Benzema, a Real Madrid forward, is charged with participation in the attempted blackmail of former international teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex film on Wednesday (October 20) in France.
Karim Benzema allegedly pushed Valbuena to pay a gang of accused blackmailers in order to keep the sexually graphic film out of the public light, according to investigators. Benzema has denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney has called the case against him "absurd."
The incident, nicknamed the "sex video affair," cost Benzema and Valbuena their positions in France's national team. The trial comes at a time when Benzema, 33, has been returned to the France squad for this year's European Championship, and the striker is excelling on the pitch.
Prosecutors claim Valbuena got the first call in early June 2015, while at the French squad's training centre in Clairefontaine, west of Paris, threatening to release the sex film. The caller asked Valbuena to appoint an intermediary and claimed he wanted to "come to an arrangement" with him.
Prosecutors claim that the suspected blackmailers hired Benzema to persuade his buddy to pay up. Benzema is accused of aiding and abetting an attempt at blackmail. His four co-accused face charges of attempted blackmail, as per the sports news updates.
If convicted, the Real Madrid attacker could face up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($87,240.00). After playing in his club's Champions League group stage encounter against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, Benzema may not be able to attend the first day of the trial.