Karim Benzema bemoans being taken to trial for alleged role in sex tape scandal

Karim Benzema did not react kindly to news he is being placed on trial for his alleged involvement in blackmailing former France team-mate Matthieu Valbuena in a ‘sex tape’ scandal, asking ‘how long is this farce going to last?’

The Versailles prosecutor’s office said on Thursday that the Real Madrid striker would stand trial on the charge of conspiracy to attempt blackmail.

Benzema posted a screenshot of a story by French newspaper L’Equipe about the update in the case, which first emerged in 2015, on Instagram as he asked his 36.9million followers when will the ‘farce’ will come to an end.  

Karim Benzema (left) moaned ‘how long will this farce last?’ on Instagram (right) as he will stand trial over alleged involvement in blackmailing Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape

Benzema (right) is suspected of having pressured Valbuena (left) to pay blackmailers to prevent them releasing the compromising video

Reacting to news of the trial, Benzema’s lawyer Sylvian Cormier described the decision as ‘absurd’.

‘We are unfortunately not surprised by this decision, which is as absurd as it was expected,’ Cormier said.

‘I am dismayed to note that one is forced to distort the elements gathered in the investigation to justify sending my client before the tribunal. 

Benzema leaves a court house in Versailles in November 2015 when the scandal emerged 

‘We will explain ourselves before the judges of the tribunal to demonstrate this abuse.’  

Benzema is suspected of having pressured his former national team team-mate to pay blackmailers who threatened to reveal an intimate video in which Valbuena featured. 

Benzema’s alleged involvement has cost him his place in the France national team since 2015 despite his consistent high-level performances for Real Madrid. 

When the story broke, Benzema faced a deluge of criticism and then-Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the former Lyon player had ‘no place’ in the national team. He has been unable to repair relations and return for Les Bleus.

Benzema has been a model of consistency for Real Madrid but remains frozen out by France

Benzema has scored 27 international goals in 81 appearances with France. 

The investigators who charged Benzema believe he was approached by a childhood friend that year to act as an intermediary and convince Valbuena to deal directly with the blackmailers. Instead, Valbuena informed the police.

Four other people will also stand trial in the case. Benzema denies any wrongdoing.

No date has been set for the new trial.