The French FA announced on Thursday that Real Madrid star Karim Benzema will be left out of the France squad indefinitely. Benzema is currently under investigation for his role in a blackmail scandal involving Les Bleus teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Karim Benzema suspended by France for involvement in sex tape blackmail scandal
The striker will not be selected for Euro 2016 unless he is cleared.
Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Benzema was taken into custody by authorities for questioning back in November. He claims that he gave advice to Valbuena on how to deal with being blackmailed, rather than participating in a blackmail scheme himself. Benzema’s attorney, unsurprisingly, insists that his client is completely innocent.
“I have decided, it is a decision from the president of the French federation and not from the executive committee or the ethics committee,” said French FA president Noel Le Graët. “As long as the judicial system has not decided that everything that has been published is excessive, the federation will not change its mind.”
Benzema is under criminal investigation, but has not yet been charged with a crime. For that reason, it’s difficult to guess whether he’ll return for Euro 2016. He might not be cleared or charged for months, and if he’s charged, his court case is unlikely to be swift enough to let him get on the field for the European Championship.
See More:
