Karim Benzema’s sex-tape fraud case has finally been settled. A French court has found the Real Madrid striker guilty. The court sentenced Benzema to one year in prison.
Benzema was not in court when the verdict was announced. He is currently in Moldova with Real Madrid to play in the Champions League. There, tonight his team will face Real Sheriff Tiraspol. Although Benzema did not appear in court, her lawyers immediately said the sentence would be appealed. Benzema will not have to go to jail because of the suspended sentence.
Sylvain Cormier, one of Benzema’s lawyers, was a little surprised by the court’s ruling. “I am a little surprised by this verdict,” he told reporters on the court premises.
The case against Benzema was filed in 2015. Matthew Valbuena, a former France teammate, said in the complaint that Benzema was cheating on him by threatening him with a sex tape. He had to stay out of the France team for about five and a half years due to that allegation.
Five-and-a-half years later, before the Euros this year, Didier Deschamps called Benzema back to the France squad. Benzema has scored nine goals for La Blues since returning to France. Now that the verdict in the sex tape case has gone against him, will he be kept in the national team? Noel La Graet, president of the French Football Federation, said Benzema’s career would not be affected.
