Karim Benzema has admitted he had a role in an alleged sex tape blackmail plot against fellow France international Mathieu Valbuena.
Spanish outlet AS are reporting that the French star made the confession after being questioned by police in Versailles on Wednesday morning.
Benzema acknowledges during his declarations that he was involved in the Valbuena case. https://t.co/BcBuCMB9OR
— AS USA (@English_AS) November 5, 2015
The 27-year-old Real Madrid star has claimed he himself was a victim of blackmailers, a source told the Daily Mail on Thursday.
According to a source, Benzema mentioned the sextape to Valbuena during a meeting of the French squad in October.
It is thought that one of Benzema’s relatives was contacted by the suspected blackmailers to try to get Benzema involved in their scheme, the source said.
Police are reportedly seeking to determine whether Benzema was teasing Valbuena when he brought up the tape, or attempting to make him pay the blackmailers.
UPDATE: AFP are reporting that Benzema has been charged with “complicity in an attempt to blackmail” and conspiring to commit a criminal act. This is punishable by up to five years in prison.
French news outlet M6 are reporting that there is evidence to back up the allegations of him being linked to the sextape.
Benzema has reportedly been recorded on a phone call talking directly about the Valbuena sextape where he said,
“Do not worry. He has no choice. I’ll make him understand. He’ll pay.”
