Real Madrid star Benzema held over sex-tape blackmail

In this June 10, 2014 file photo, France’s Mathieu Valbuena, left, and Karim Benzema, right, chat during a training session of the french national soccer team, at the Santa Cruz Stadium in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil. Benzema has been arrested Wednesday Nov.4, 2015 as part of an investigation into a blackmail case involving another football player. Police are trying to find out which role the Real Madrid forward played in the extortion attempt targeting France midfielder Valbuena, and if he actually tried to blackmail the Lyon player over a sex tape. AP File Photo

VERSAILLES, France—Real Madrid star Karim Benzema was held for questioning Wednesday in connection with alleged blackmail over a sex tape featuring fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena, a source close to the probe told AFP.

The Real Madrid and France forward arrived with a hood pulled over his head at the police station in Versailles, near Paris, early Wednesday and was placed in detention, the local prosecutor confirmed.

Investigators are trying to determine the extent of Benzema’s involvement in a months-long attempt to extort money from fellow French international Valbuena after a sex tape found its way into the hands of suspected blackmailers.

According to the source, Benzema mentioned the intimate video to Valbuena when the French national team met for training near Paris in early October, ahead of matches against Armenia and Denmark.

Benzema, who will turn 28 next month, was spending the night in police detention in Versailles.

Police are seeking to determine whether he was just teasing Valbuena when he mentioned the tape, or trying to make him pay A group of suspected blackmailers, who were charged and put in detention last month.

His lawyer said he had played “no part” in the plot and was keen to clear his name.

“Karim Benzema has absolutely nothing to hide,” said lawyer Sylvain Cormier.

“He is happy, satisfied even, to finally put an end to this tiresome controversy.”

Past controversies

It is not the first time the French striker has been embroiled in a police investigation.

READ: 2 French football stars on trial for sex with underage prostitute

In 2009, he and teammate Franck Ribery were accused of sleeping with under-age prostitute Zahia Dehar.

Both men were finally cleared of wrongdoing five years later, by which time Dehar had become a reality TV star and fashion designer.

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.

The caller did not specify a sum of money but said they should come to an arrangement.

Police then took over, posing as Valbuena’s business associate in later calls with the blackmailers, who threatened to release the video ahead of the 2016 European Championship, which France is hosting.

The investigation led them to three men, including one who was a close member of Valbuena’s entourage and who had direct access to the footballer’s phone containing the sex tape.

Two of the group are also said to have ties to Djibril Cisse, another French international and a former teammate of Valbuena at Marseilles, and successfully made him pay up for a sex tape in 2008.

The group used Cisse to authenticate the sex tape, the judicial source said, leading him to warn Valbuena that a video was circulating.

Cisse was detained for questioning last month but was quickly released without charge.

In a bid to speed up the negotiations, the blackmailers contacted a friend of Benzema’s brother in Lyon, a man already known to police.

The friend was detained in relation to the blackmail case on Monday and was due to appear before a judge later Wednesday in Lyon.

Blackmail carries a potential prison sentence of five years.

Benzema, 27, is one of Real Madrid’s star players alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale and has a good reputation with managers and fellow players.

He started his career in his home town of Lyon, the club Valbuela joined this summer.

On Thursday, France national coach Didier Deschamps is due to name his squad for upcoming internationals against Germany and Britain. The names of both Benzema and Valbuena would normally be expected to appear on the list.