http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84fUoS5dBDo
The scandal involves fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena, 31, according to the French prosecutor's office. Valbuena even apologized on Facebook to his old friend, saying he didn't suspect his involvement at all.
As soon as Benzema was taken into questioning this week, his lawyer made a statement that his client had done nothing wrong and was happy to help the course of justice. As far as I am concerned, I have no complain about Djibril who has always acted like a friend, trying to help me. Benzema isn't the first international superstar to be heard in this case; last month, former France striker Djibril Ciss? was also taken into custody and later released.
[Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images]The police investigation, which came to light in October with Ciss?'s arrest, involves Lyon midfielder Valbuena, who was allegedly asked for money in return for a tape not being published. However, it later came out that Benzema was aware of the tape's existence and had discussed it with Valbuena during a meeting of the French team at Clairefontaine in October. He is allowed to fly back to Madrid for training, but he is not allowed to see the victim or anyone else charged in the case.
Translation: "I am truly sorry that my friend Djibril Ciss? was taken into police custody recently. According to French newspaper Le Parisien, the player remained in police custody overnight and was charged on Thursday morning. Benzema, 27, has now been charged with "complicity in an attempt to blackmail[/img]
Ciss? was one of four people to be heard by the police, and after he convinced the investigators he was in no way involved in the scandal, Ciss? was released. Deschamps refused to comment on the case but said Benzema would have missed those games regardless because of his injury.
Benzema and Valbuena are good friends and teammates in the national France team -- but will they be able to play together again after this ordeal?
[Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images][Featured image by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images]
Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema Charged In Sex Tape Scandal: Faces Five Years In Jail
