By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has finally learned that he will not be selected for France at this summer’s Euros after months of claim and counter-claim over his role in an alleged sex tape blackmail case that has overshadowed his international record on the field.
Benzema has been at the heart of an investigation into an alleged plot involving France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.
Last month, certain legal restrictions were lifted over the 28-year-old making contact with Valbuena, meaning he could technically play for his country again. But the case has caused so much adverse publicity that the French FA (FFF) have taken the step of announcing in advance that Benzema will not be selected.
Benzema, placed under investigation in November for “complicity in a blackmail attempt” and being part of a “criminal group”, denies wrongdoing and said on Twitter the decision was unfortunate “for me and those who support me”.
But the FFF said squad unity was paramount. “The president (Noel Le Graet) and coach (Didier Deschamps) agreed that sporting performance was an important criteria but not the only one. The ability of players to work in a united way and maintain group discipline are equally important,” a statement said.
Benzema has 27 international goals and would have been an integral part of the squad. He has always maintained he informed investigators he approached Valbuena about the tape on behalf of “a childhood friend” and claims he did not realise he was doing anything wrong. Earlier this year his lawyer insisted he was not party to any blackmail attempt. “He played no part, I repeat no part, in any blackmail or attempted blackmail,” he said.
But France’s sports minister, Patrick Kanner, has already suggested it is too soon to recall the 81-capped striker insisting “human values must be taken into consideration”.
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