Real Madrid’s star French striker Karim Benzema is set to face trial proceedings for his alleged complicity in a scheme to blackmail his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena, the prosecutor of the Versailles Tribunal confirmed to CNN.
The case is linked to the existence of an alleged sex tape featuring Valbuena and Benzema will be facing trial under the accusation of pressuring Valbuena to pay blackmailers to prevent the video from becoming public. Both players had played together in the French national team.
According to the prosecutor, Benzema needs to answer to the charge of “complicity in attempted blackmail”. Four other men, whose names were withheld, were also implicated in the case for attempted blackmail, with one also facing an additional breach of trust charge, the prosecutor told CNN.
Benzema, who was suspended by the French national team as a result, denied the allegations when the investigation first began. The French forward could face jail time if found guilty.
When asked by Le Monde in 2015 if he blamed Benzema, Valbuena said that he was “very, very, very disappointed” with his former teammate, who he said showed a “lack of respect” towards him.
Benzema’s lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, told Reuters: “We are unfortunately not surprised by this decision, which is as absurd as it was expected.
“I am dismayed to note that one is forced to distort the elements gathered in the investigation to justify sending my client before the tribunal. We will explain ourselves before the judges of the tribunal to demonstrate this abuse.”
Cormier said in 2015 that Benzema had “taken no part in this blackmail attempt” and that the case had gone public “in a fallacious manner.”
Real Madrid gave their full support to Benzema at the time with President Florentino Perez saying the player’s actions were “in good faith.”
Benzema scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for the French national team but has not represented his country since the incident with Valbuena.
He has also featured prominently for Real Madrid, scoring more than 250 goals for the Los Blancos and has won four European Cups and three La Liga titles with the Spanish club.
Valbuena, 36, currently plays for Greek champion Olympiacos, which he joined in 2019. His club career has also seen his play for Marseille and Lyon in France and Fenerbahce in Turkey. He hasn’t represented the French national team since the incident with Benzema.
Representatives for Benzema and Valbuena did not respond to CNN’s requests for comment.