Karim Benzema has been found guilty of being complicit to blackmail through a sex tape.<\/p>\n
The Real Madrid striker<\/a> has been handed a one-year suspended sentenced and fined \u20ac75,000 (\u00a363,000) for having a role in blackmailing former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.<\/p>\n Before the verdict, the French prosecutor’s office had called for a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a \u20ac75,000. The maximum punishment Benzema could have received<\/a> was a five-year jail term and a \u20ac90,000 fine.<\/p>\n Prosecutors accused the 33-year-old forward of being an intermediary between four other blackmailers and Valbuena. Benzema insists he was attempting to help his fellow Frenchman and continues to deny the allegation.<\/p>\n The lawyer of the striker stated they will appeal<\/a> the ruling after being “quite flabbergasted” at the decision and they believe “he will be exonerated at the height of this appeal”.<\/p>\n Benzema was not present during the trial proceedings in October, or at today’s court session.<\/p>\n Prior to making his return to the France national team in May 2021, Benzema had been exiled for six years<\/a> due to his alleged involvement in the blackmail case.<\/p>\nFuture in the National Team<\/h3>\n