Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to stand trial in sex tape case

Soccer Football - Champions League - Group A - Paris St Germain v Real Madrid - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - September 18, 2019, Real Madrid's Karim Benzema reacts after a goal is disallowed [Reuters, Benoit Tessier]

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema will stand trial after being charged by prosecutors with being complicit in a conspiracy to blackmail his former France teammate Matthieu Valbuena in a case linked to a sex tape, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Investigators alleged that Benzema, who has not played for Les Bleus since October 2015, encouraged Valbuena to pay blackmailers in order that the tape would not be made public.

Benzema has denied wrongdoing and a trial date has not yet been set.

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, centre, controls the ball as Villareal's Javi Ontiveros, right, tries to stop him during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, July 16, 2020. [AP Photo, Bernat Armangue]

“We are unfortunately not surprised by this decision, which is as absurd as it was expected,” Benzema’s lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, told Reuters.

“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. We will explain ourselves before the judges of the tribunal to demonstrate this abuse.”

Benzema, 33, has scored 261 goals in 533 games with Real Madrid and found the net 27 times in 81 games for France.