What Happened:
--Karim Benzema was arrested and charged for blackmailing France team-mate Mathieu Valbeuna over an alleged sex tape.
How & When did it come to light:
--The case emerged on October 13 when former France forward Djibril Cisse was among four people being questioned by police.
--The scandal, said to have started in June, has resurfaced last Wednesday when it emerged that Benzema had been arrested in France.
--Cisse denied involvement in the attempt to extort money from his former Marseille colleague and was released without charge
-Valbuena soon after defends Cisse – "[Cisse] conducted himself as a friend by trying to help me".
--Sylvain Courmier, Benzema's lawyer states "he has done absolutely nothing wrong” and is confident he could “finally put an end to this painful controversy"
-- Benzema charged by Versailles police (on Thursday).
IF FOUND GUILTY, WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO BENZEMA?
--Benzema has not been convicted of anything as of yet and therefore he remains innocent until proven otherwise.
--Should Benzema be convicted of the charges mentioned in the begining of this article he could face a maximum prison sentence of five years.
--In the meantime, Benzema is forbidden from meeting and contacting the Lyon attacking midfielder, who is yet to comment on the latest revelations in the blackmail case.
--Benzema has returned to Madrid with the judge having chosen not to confiscate his passport.
IS THIS WHY HE WASN'T SELECTED FOR FRANCE'S LATEST SQUAD?
--Benzema has not featured for Real Madrid since sustaining a hamstring injury in the October international break as France defeated Armenia 4-0
--Benzema scored twice before his substitution.
-- Didier Deschamps -"Karim is injured and therefore not in the squad, Regarding the recent events, I don't know all the details of the case, but I have little doubt justice will do its job."
-- Valbuena however is not injured and has played eight times for France in 2015, but Deschamps said: "He is not in the best condition psychologically. I have taken the decision to give him some rest."
BENZEMA HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE LAW BEFORE, HASN'T HE?
--Benzema has a colourful history with the judicial systems in France and Spain. In January 2014, Benzema and Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery were acquitted in Paris of soliciting an underage prostitute.
--Benzema always denied allegations he had engaged in sexual relations with Zahia Dehar (Image Below) in 2008, while Ribery admitted he had engaged in intercourse with the same girl but denied knowing her age. The judge ruled there was not enough proof that the France duo were aware Ms Dehar was not 18 years old – the legal age of consent with a prostitute in Germany and France.
--More recently, Cadena SER reported that Benzema was stopped by police on October 29 in Spain for committing an illegal turn and was in turn accused of driving without a valid licence. Marca claim the traffic violation has been fast-tracked and Benzema will stand trial on November 23 at 10:00 CET.
--Two years ago, Benzema had his licence suspended and was fined €18,000 for speeding, and six months ago he was punished for the same offence en route to Madrid's Barajas airport.
