Karim Benzema withdraws appeal verdict on sex video allegation

DBasia.news – France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has withdrawn his appeal against a one-year prison sentence for his role in an attempt to extort a former team-mate over a sex tape.

Benzema was also fined €75,000 and ordered to pay former France winger Mathieu Valbuena €80,000 to cover court costs and €150,000 for moral damages suffered by his three other defendants.

“My client is exhausted by this. This revocation confirms his verdict and guilty plea. This is the truth of the law,” said Benzema’s lawyer, Hugues Vigier.

“But this is not reality. Karim Benzema will always plead not guilty in this case and he never intended to take part in the blackmail operation against Mathieu Valbuena.”

Vigier also confirmed his client had withdrawn the appeal to AFP, but Reuters could not reach Vigier.

The president of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet, previously said Benzema would not have been kicked out of the national team had he been sentenced and received the reprieve demanded by prosecutors.

Benzema, who has been in form this season, was part of the Real Madrid side that won the Champions League last month by finishing as the competition’s top scorer last term.

He scored his 37th goal in 95 appearances for France on Friday as Les Bleus lost 2-1 to Denmark.

He is the favorite to win the Ballon D’Or award this season as the best player in the world.