Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has been sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term.
Gatekeepers News reports that Benzema has been sentenced to a one-year suspended jail term after being found guilty of complicity in the attempted blackmail of former France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
Benzema who was not present in court was also fined 75,000 euros (£63,000). His lawyer, however, said the player would appeal against the verdict. He had earlier denied any wrongdoing.
He is due to play for the Spanish club against Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol later on Wednesday in the Champions League.
His Lawyer Antoine Vey said, “This outcome in no way corresponds with the reality of events.”
As of the time of filing this report, Real Madrid has not responded to the issue.
Prosecutors had argued Benzema had encouraged Valbuena to pay a suspected group of blackmailers in order to keep the sexually explicit tape from the public.
According to the Prosecutors, Valbuena received the first of several phone calls threatening to expose the tape in June 2015. Valbuena told the court it was clear the caller wanted money and the blackmail attempt left him fearing for his career and place in the national team.
The Prosecutors added that Benzema was recruited by the alleged blackmailers to encourage Valbuena to pay as his team-mate stalled.
The scandal dubbed the “sex tape affair”, however, made Benzema and Valbuena lose their places in the national team.
