Karim Benzema has been given a one-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty of blackmailing his former France international team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.
The Real Madrid striker has also been fined €75,000 for his role in the criminal scheme.
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Benzema stood trial last month for his role in former Lyon and France team-mate Valbuena being blackmailed over a sex tape ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.
Benzema’s lawyer said they would appeal the decision: “We are quite flabbergasted by this judgment. An appeal is necessary. He will be exonerated at the height of this appeal.”
The striker had denied any involvement in the incident.
The prosecution had called for Benzema, who was one of five people charged over an affair that rocked the French national team, to be given a 10-month suspended sentence.
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The verdict is not expected to damage his career, with French football federation president Noel Le Graet saying he could keep his place in Les Bleus even if convicted and Real Madrid also remaining supportive of their star player.
Benzema has scored nine times since being recalled by France manager Didier Deschamps for the Euro 2020 finals — delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic — making him the fifth-highest scorer in the history of Les Bleus.
©ControlTV2021.
