<div id="attachment_158623" style="width: 576px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/karim-benzema1-e1449074309590.jpg"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>Photo credit: AFP.</div>
Karim Benzema says his go-between role in the Mathieu Valbuena sextape blackmail case has been misunderstood as the Real Madrid striker prepares to explain himself on French TV on Wednesday. The pre-recorded interview comes after French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday suggested <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/12/01/karim-benzema-sex-tape-scandal-france-prime-minister-comments/">only players with exemplary records should represent France</a> at Euro 2016.
“I hope it all turns out well for all of us, for Mathieu, myself and my mate (a childhood friend of Benzema’s also arrested in the case),” Benzema told TF1 in extracts broadcast by the LCI news channel.
“I hope we get back in the France team and that we win the Euro,” he insisted.
The 27-year-old has been charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act by the prosecutor’s office in Versailles, charges that carry a maximum five years prison sentence.
“It’s all a huge misunderstanding,” Benzema told a judge last month, according to an article in Le Monde.
“All I was doing was trying to help. There’s nothing to any of it, no blackmail or demands for money.”
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/11/27/mathieu-valbuena-says-karim-benzema-indirectly-told-him-to-pay-in-sex-tape-extortion/">Valbuena says Benzema ‘indirectly’ told him to pay extortion.</a>
The scandal is a serious distraction to France before they host Euro 2016. Benzema is forbidden to have any contact with Valbuena, 31, and neither was called up for France’s recent friendlies against Germany and England.
In sporting terms, Benzema is seen as France’s top striker, but Les Bleus have a wealth of other attacking options and a record of leaving trouble-makers out of squads for international tournaments.
The blackmail case began in June, when Valbuena lodged a complaint with police after being telephoned by a man who said he had the sex tape.
Four men, including a friend of Benzema, Karim Zenati, have been charged and detained over the blackmail using the stolen sex-tape.
Benzema is alleged to have approached Valbuena about the images at a France national training camp on Oct. 5.
The former Lyon star says he had no need of money nor did one of the accused, Karim Zenati, as he was employed in one of Benzema’s companies.
A police telephone tap however on Benzema and his calls to Zenati cast doubts on their attitude.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/11/20/mathieu-valbuena-sex-tape-investigation-karim-benzema-charges-probe/">Valbuena in court to testify in sextape probe.</a>
“I’m mad with myself for having talked that way on the phone, we went too far,” Benzema said of comments that appeared to mock Valbuena.
The victim of the affair, Valbuena, in his first public comments told Le Monde last week he was “very, very, very disappointed” by Benzema.
Benzema’s lawyer Alain Jakubowicz told Wednesday’s le Parisien newspaper that the player would use Wednesday’s tv interview to apologzse to Valbuena for those unfriendly remarks. The lawyer also used the Le Parisien to hit out at the French prime minister’s comments over his clients potential exclusion from the France squad asking : “Is this a prime minister’s words or those of a Barcelona fan talking about a Real Madrid player.”
Valls hails from the Catalonia region and was in hot water himself in June for using a French government jet to fly himself and his son to Berlin to the Champions League final featuring Barcelona.
Jakubowicz later told RTL radio he would sue Le Monde for contempt of court for having revealed details of Benzema’s testimony, adding the revelations would aid the player’s defense.
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<li><a class="row-title" title="Edit “Rafa Benitez backs under-fire Karim Benzema: ‘He is very important for us’”" href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/12/01/rafa-benitez-backs-under-fire-karim-benzema-he-is-very-important-for-us/">Benitez backs under-fire Benzema: ‘He is very important for us’.</a></li>
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Karim Benzema will go on French TV to plead 'misunderstanding' in sextape blackmail case - World Soccer Talk

Karim Benzema will go on French TV to plead 'misunderstanding' in sextape blackmail case

<div id="attachment_158527" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/karim-benzema.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-158527" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-158527" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20151201_WST_158510_karim-benzema-600x457.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=457" alt="Photo credit: AFP." width="600" height="457" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/12/karim-benzema-600x457.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/12/karim-benzema-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/12/karim-benzema-300x229.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/12/karim-benzema.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a>Photo credit: AFP.</div>
Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez has restated his support for French striker Karim Benzema amid increasing criticism of Benzema’s off-field behavior in his homeland. Benzema has been charged in France for his alleged participation in a blackmail case involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/12/01/karim-benzema-sex-tape-scandal-france-prime-minister-comments/">French Prime Minister Manuel Valls added his voice</a> to the debate on Tuesday by claiming sportsmen who don’t behave in an “exemplary” manner shouldn’t play for the national team. However, Madrid have insisted they will stick by Benzema, and Benitez insisted the 27-year-old remains a key player despite not starting either of Real’s last two outings.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/11/27/mathieu-valbuena-says-karim-benzema-indirectly-told-him-to-pay-in-sex-tape-extortion/">Valbuena claims Benzema ‘indirectly’ told him to pay extortion.</a>
“I consider him a fundamental player for us. On a personal level I have said before that he is a great guy and he has our support,” Benitez said on Tuesday.
“He is a key player for us because he is a reference up front and makes those around him play even better.”
Benzema started <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/11/21/suarez-neymar-star-as-barcelona-rout-real-madrid-4-0/">Madrid’s humiliating 4-0 defeat at home to Barcelona</a> 10 days ago after a six-week absence due to a hamstring injury, but was only introduced as a late substitute in wins away at Shakhtar Donetsk and Eibar in the past week.
“He is very important for us. He had a long time out with injury and we have to manage his minutes the best way possible.”
Benzema is therefore likely to feature as Madrid get their Copa del Rey campaign underway away at Cadiz on Wednesday, especially as Benitez admitted Cristiano Ronaldo will be rested for the first time this season.
Benitez is in need of a big performance after two unconvincing displays despite bouncing back from the Barcelona debacle with two consecutive wins. However, he insisted that winning rather than beautiful football is the most important way to make amends with the fans:
<blockquote>“First we have to define what is beautiful and good football.
“In principle, what Madrid have to do is respect Cadiz, who are an historic team in Spanish football, and respect such a difficult and dangerous competition as the Copa del Rey.
“We need to prepare for the game with good concentration, with desire, give our best, which is what Real Madrid fans always demand, and on top of that play as well as possible and win.”</blockquote>
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Benitez backs under-fire Benzema: ‘He is very important for us’ - World Soccer Talk

Benitez backs under-fire Benzema: ‘He is very important for us’

<a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena.jpg"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena.jpg"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-158269" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20151127_WST_158268_karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena-600x399.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=399" alt="karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena" width="600" height="399" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/karim-benzema-mathieu-valbuena.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></a></figure></div>
Mathieu Valbuena said Friday that France international teammate Karim Benzema “indirectly” told him he had to pay a ransom to get back a sex tape of him with his girlfriend. In his first public comments on the scandal that has torn apart the French national team, Valbuena told Le Monde newspaper he was “very, very, very disappointed” at the actions of Benzema.
Twenty-seven year-old Real Madrid star Benzema has been charged with complicity to blackmail Valbuena over the tape.
Le Monde asked Valbuena whether Benzema had just urged him to meet the blackmailers. “Incite, that means ‘you will have to pay’ indirectly,” Valbuena replied.
“He was not aggressive in his manner of talking, he did not talk about money concretely, directly. But when someone insists that I meet someone … hmmmm.
“I have never met anyone who is going to destroy a video for free just because they love me! You shouldn’t treat people like idiots,” Valbuena said.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/11/20/mathieu-valbuena-sex-tape-investigation-karim-benzema-charges-probe/">Valbuena gives testimony in court.</a>
The scandal has rocked France’s campaign for the European Championships which the country will host next year. Benzema has been banned from meeting Valbuena and neither were chosen for recent France games.
Four men, including a friend of Benzema, Karim Zenati, have been charged and detained over the blackmail using the stolen sex tape.
Benzema is alleged to have approached Valbuena about the images at a France national training camp on Oct. 5.
The 31-year-old Lyon midfielder said it had been hard to accept the implication of a France teammate in the scandal.
“I am very very very disappointed and I can only note that my relations with Karim were not as sincere as he makes out,” he added.
According to investigation sources, Benzema has admitted to police that he was to act as an “intermediary” between Valbuena and one of the blackmailers, who was a childhood friend of Benzema.
“When I went to the first (police) questioning I had absolutely no idea that Karim Benzema was involved,” he told Le Monde.
<div class="ckeditor-em"><iframe loading="lazy" width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com/tracks/233660209&amp;color=ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false"></iframe></div>
Valbuena said Benzema had asked him to deny Benzema’s involvement in a telephone call when Lyon were in Russia preparing to play against Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League on Oct. 20.
“He said to me ‘Mat my name has come out, what is all this chaos. I can’t be in all these affairs.’
“I said to him: ‘Listen Karim, its nothing special, you did nothing, there’s no worry’. But I told myself it’s strange that he wanted me to meet this person.”
According to Valbuena, Benzema then went on to ask him to deny his involvement. “This is hot, it is going to become mad, I have a daughter and everything,” he quoted Benzema as saying.
Valbuena had earlier made a statement saying that another former teammate, Djibril Cisse, was not involved in the affair even though he had also been questioned by police about the sex tape.
“At that moment, I knew that the big difference between Djibril and Karim was that Djibril had never asked me to meet someone. But Karim, he did,” said Valbuena.
The blackmail case began in June, when Valbuena lodged a complaint with police after being telephoned by a man who said he had the sex tape.

Valbuena says Benzema told him to pay in sex tape extortion - World Soccer Talk

Valbuena says Benzema told him to pay in sex tape extortion

<div id="attachment_157647" style="width: 610px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/mathieu-valbuena-lyon.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-157647" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-157647" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20151120_WST_157646_mathieu-valbuena-lyon-600x412.webp&amp;width=600&amp;height=412" alt="Photo credit: AFP." width="600" height="412" srcset="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/mathieu-valbuena-lyon-600x412.jpg 600w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/mathieu-valbuena-lyon-150x103.jpg 150w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/mathieu-valbuena-lyon-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2015/11/mathieu-valbuena-lyon.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"></figure></div></a>Photo credit: AFP.</div>
Mathieu Valbuena, the victim of a sex tape blackmail attempt over which fellow France international Karim Benzema has been charged, gave evidence before a judge investigating the affair for more than two hours on Friday.&nbsp;Valbuena was seen by an AFP journalist leaving the court in Versailles, on the outskirts of Paris, in a black Mercedes at around 12:45 p.m. local time (1145 GMT) following a hearing that began around 10:30 a.m.
“He was very calm and answered all questions honestly,” Valbuena’s lawyer Didier Domat said outside the court.&nbsp;The lawyer refused to discuss what had been said during the hearing because of the “confidentiality of the investigation.”
However, Domat added that Valbuena “had no wish to damage the integrity of the French national team or of French football” and had only acted “within his right as a citizen” in pressing charges.
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/09/16/mathieu-valbuena-law-suit-marseille-agent-fee/">Valbuena files suit against former club Marseille.</a>
Valbuena is set to feature for Lyon in Friday night’s Ligue 1 game away to Nice with sports daily L’Equipe reporting that the 31-year-old would travel to the Cote d’Azur in a private jet laid on by the club.&nbsp;He was expected to be questioned by judge Nathalie Boutard about a conversation he had with Benzema on Oct.&nbsp;5 at the France national training centre in Clairefontaine, outside Paris.&nbsp;The inquiry will seek to determine whether the 27-year-old Real Madrid striker Benzema acted as a friend or a blackmailer during the conversation.
A source close to the investigation has said Benzema has admitted approaching Valbuena about the tape on behalf of a “childhood friend,” Karim Zenati, who himself had been contacted by blackmailers in possession of the tape.&nbsp;But Benzema’s lawyer said the player was innocent and “has admitted nothing at all.”
Investigators have recordings of a telephone conversation on Oct.&nbsp;6 with Zenati during which Benzema tells his friend about his conversation with Valbuena the previous day.
“I did have a conversation with Zenati on the way to approach the subject with Mathieu Valbuena … but without a second thought,” Benzema told investigators.
“That Karim Zenati benefited from it wasn’t my aim, I didn’t think about it, I’m frankly shocked, I feel stupid when I see that.”
SEE MORE: <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/2015/08/24/karim-benzema-transfer-news-real-madrid-arsenal-rumors/">Benzema takes to social media to hit back at ‘clowns’.</a>
Both players were left out of the France squad for the recent friendly matches against Germany — which was disrupted by suicide attackers outside the Stade de France last Friday — and the game against England at Wembley on Tuesday.
The blackmail case began in June, when Valbuena lodged a complaint with police after being telephoned by an unknown person who said he had the sex tape in his possession.

Karim Benzema will go on French TV to plead 'misunderstanding' in sextape blackmail case

Benzema-Valubena scandal

Karim Benzema will go on French TV to plead 'misunderstanding' in sextape blackmail case

Benzema-Valubena scandal

Benitez backs under-fire Benzema: ‘He is very important for us’

Benzema-Valubena scandal

Valbuena says Benzema told him to pay in sex tape extortion

Benzema-Valubena scandal

Valbuena appears in court to give testimony in sex tape probe