French prime minister Manuel Valls has demanded Karim Benzema be dropped from the French national team until he is fully cleared of involvement in an alleged blackmail plot.
Benzema is under investigation for any involvement in the blackmail of France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over an alleged sex tape of the Lyon midfielder.
The 27-year-old continues to play for Real Madrid but did not feature in recent international friendlies against England and Germany, and Valles insists he not be recalled until his association with the case is over.
“A great athlete should be exemplary. If he is not, he has no place in the France team,” Valls said on French radio.
“There are so many kids, so many youngsters in our suburbs that relate to great athletes. They wear the blue jersey, the colours of France, which are so important in these moments.
“If a minister was under formal investigation, they would not be in the government. In a way, it’s the same for the France team.”
