France striker Karim Benzema arrested in sex tape blackmail case

France striker Karim Benzema was arrested on Wednesday as part of an investigation into a blackmail case over a sex tape involving another player. The Real Madrid player, 27, was in custody after being summoned to a Versailles police station. He is being questioned over what part, if any, he played in the extortion attempt targeting France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, 31, and if he tried to blackmail the Lyon player.

We can confirm Benzema is being questioned on his role in this affair.

French prosecutors

The affair centres on an alleged attempted blackmail involving a sex tape recorded on a mobile phone. Three suspects have been officially mis en examen – the French equivalent of being charged – since October. Former France international Djibril Cisse, 34, was briefly detained last month after being suspected of conspiracy to blackmail, a charge with a maximum prison sentence of five years. Last year, Benzema was cleared on all charges during an under-age sex trial in Paris, in which his co-defendant was the France international Franck Ribery who plays for Bayern Munich.

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