Court lifts Benzema restrictions
Print Edition
KARIM Benzema is now free to play alongside Mathieu Valbuena after a French appeals court lifted the order preventing the Real Madrid striker from meeting with his France teammate yesterday, paving the way for his comeback with the national squad.
Benzema’s lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, described the decision as “a first step”. Benzema, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, is facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex-tape involving France teammate Valbuena.
Benzema has been suspended from the national team until the case has been resolved, meaning that he could miss the European Championship to be held in France from June 10.
An investigating judge had lifted the order keeping the two players apart, but the prosecutor appealed.
The French football federation also welcomed the judicial decision “as a first step”, adding it was allowed to join the case as plaintiff, meaning it will now have access to the case files.
Benzema is one of France’s key players as it gets ready to host the Euro 2016 tournament and French football authorities have been pushing hard for a reconciliation between the players, hoping they will be both available for the continental cup.
While prime minister Manuel Valls joined in the criticism of Benzema after the case emerged last October, French federation president Noel Le Graet has remained a strong supporter of the former Lyon forward.
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