Benzema to appear before judge

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will on Thursday appear before a judge in the case of the alleged blackmail of France international Mathieu Valbuena.

AS cites reports from AFP that say Benzema will be in court after he was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the investigation.

It’s understood that the hearing will be to determine if Benzema is to face any charges or not.

Spain’s sports newspapers on Thursday carried pictures of Benzema entering the police station in Versailles and it is believed that is where he slept after questioning over the extent of his involvement.

AS reports Benzema’s representatives hope he is released today without charge, so he can return to Spain and re-join Madrid training.

The publication also notes that Benzema himself was the victim of a blackmail attempt in 2011, when the release of intimate pictures was threatened if Benzema didn’t pay €900,000.

Benzema took the threat to the police and a sting operation was set up, with the blackmailer arrested, charged and convicted.

That same year saw someone pose as Benzema on Facebook, with the former Lyon forward also taking that incident to the authorities and the person charged.

Tags Karim Benzema Mathieu Valbuena
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