Benzema Sentenced to One Year Probation for Blackmailing Colleague with Sex Video

by Kwon Jaehee

Published 24 Nov.2021 21:37(KST)

▲Karim Benzema

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Karim Benzema, a forward for the Spanish professional football league team Real Madrid, was sentenced to one year of probation by a French court for blackmailing a teammate with a sex video, AFP and other agencies reported on the 24th (local time).

According to the report, at the trial held at the Versailles court on the outskirts of Paris that day, the court sentenced Benzema to one year of probation and a fine of 75,000 euros (about 100 million KRW). This sentence is heavier than the prosecution's request for 10 months of probation.

The court also ordered Benzema to pay the litigation costs and damages of 150,000 euros (about 200 million KRW) to Valbuena.

Benzema was charged with conspiring with a group attempting to extort money from Mathieu Valbuena, his teammate on the French national football team in 2015, by using a sex video as leverage.

Benzema denied the charges, claiming he was trying to help Valbuena get out of the situation, but the court explained that Benzema "deceived and lied to Valbuena to persuade him to comply with the blackmail" and that "Benzema was not acting out of kindness."

The court also found the other four defendants guilty.

In response to the court ruling, Benzema's lawyer stated, "It is a very harsh, unfair, and unfounded judgment," and announced plans to appeal immediately.

Benzema did not attend the trial as he was present at the Champions League match against Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova) held in Moldova that day.

Although Benzema was found guilty that day, it appears he will continue to play for the French national team.

Noel Le Graet, president of the French Football Federation, said in an interview with the daily Le Parisien earlier this month that even if Benzema is sentenced, he would not be excluded from the national team if probation is granted.