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French court approves investigation of Karim Benzema blackmail case

Agencia EFE
Paris, FranceUpdated: Nov 08, 2018, 07:19 PM IST
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File photo of Karim Benzema. Photograph:(Reuters)

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Benzema has not been called up to the France national squad since the scandal broke at the end of 2015.

The Paris Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected the annulment of an investigation into Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, for his alleged blackmailing of fellow France teammate Mathieu Valbuena, the player's legal team told EFE.

Investigators accused the Real Madrid forward and three other people of threatening to release an alleged sexually explicit video of Valbuena and his wife unless the player handed over money. 

Benzema's legal team requested the annulment of the investigations because, in their view, it was tainted after an undercover officer allegedly illegally recorded their conversations. 

Defense lawyer Sylvain Cormier told EFE he was planning to lodge an appeal at the Supreme Court.

Benzema has not been called up to the France national squad since the scandal broke at the end of 2015.