The French Football Federation on Thursday indefinitely suspended star striker Karim Benzema because of criminal charges of involvement in a sex-tape blackmail attempt against teammate Mathieu Valbuen
The French Football Federation on Thursday indefinitely suspended star striker Karim Benzema because of criminal charges of involvement in a sex-tape blackmail attempt against teammate Mathieu Valbuena.
Federation president Noel Le Graet said the suspension would include the 2016 European Championship to be held in France — which get underway in exactly six months — unless the case was settled.
“Karim Benzema will not be selected until the situation changes, until there is something new in the case. It is a decision I took as president of the federation,” Le Graet told a press conference in Paris.
He added that either the charges had to be dropped or Benzema — the leading scorer among all current France internationals with 27 goals in 81 caps -- and Valbuena had to reconcile.
“If there is no change in March (when the next internationals are held) he will not play, if there is no change for the Euro he will not play,” Le Graet declared. Le Graet’s announcement came just two days before the draw for the Euro 2016 finals is held in Paris.
