the French national team on Thursday because of
his involvement in an ongoing blackmail case,
throwing his international career into doubt.
The Real Madrid striker has been charged with
conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion
scam over a sex tape involving France teammate
Mathieu Valbuena.
"I have decided that he is not available for
selection,'' France Football Federation president
Noel Le Graet said, calling it a "heartbreaking"
decision.
The 27-year-old Benzema, who denies
wrongdoing, is suspected of playing an active role
in pressuring Valbuena to deal with the
blackmailers in possession of the tape.
He was dropped from the France squad for
November's friendly matches against Germany
and England. On Tuesday his lawyers issued a
request for a confrontation hearing with Lyon
winger Valbuena.
Real Madrid issued a statement of support for
their player on Thursday.
"Real Madrid C. F. regret but respect the decision
taken today by the French Football Federation to
provisionally suspend Karim Benzema from the
France national team, and wish to reiterate once
more their support for and confidence in the
player."
The FFF said they felt obliged to address the
controversy. Following a meeting of the
organisation's executive committee, Le Graet said
that the investigating judge had not given the
FFF full access to the case file as a civil party.
But he said that the FFF could not remain
"indifferent" to wiretap evidence that was leaked
to the media, which included a conversation
between Benzema and his childhood friend
during which the sex tape was discussed.
Le Graet confirmed that unless the case turns in
Benzema's favour, he will not be considered for
selection for France's friendlies against the
Netherlands and Russia in March or for Euro
2016.
"At the moment, Benzema can no longer be
selected," he said. "If the situation has not
changed, he will not be available for selection in
March ... he won't be available for selection in
June or July if the situation has not changed.
"So I'm leaving some hope that this blown-up
case might eventually find a normal balance."
While Benzema has not been convicted of
anything, the FFF can rely on an ethical charter
that calls on players to give a good example as
well as a code of conduct signed by all of the
French team.
Le Graet said it was a "heartbreaking" decision to
make, especially because he was not allowed to
discuss the situation face to face with both
players.
Having been placed under judicial supervision,
Benzema is not allowed to have any contact with
Valbuena and Le Graet called on the judge to
speed up the process.
"That the judge decides that the case file is dead
or that he and Valbuena become friends again
after the judge decides that they can meet," he
said, when asked what it would take for Benzema
to become eligible for selection again.
"My desire is that this case deflates and that the
two players can shake hands and play."
Le Graet said France manager Didier Deschamps
had accepted his latest decision.
Le Graet said that Valbuena had been "very
close" to Benzema.
But the Lyon winger told Le Monde that he was
"more than disappointed" by Benzema's
behaviour and Le Graet said this version of events
had caused him to reflect.
Earlier Le Graet had spoken of his admiration for
both players, saying that the FFF were "very
attached" to both. He stressed that the victim,
Valbuena, was an exceptional player who has the
support of the FFF and the complete respect of
Deschamps.
Le Graet called Benzema a "good guy," who was
born in an "extremely difficult area" and had
never changed his friends.
"His friends didn't develop too much -- he became
a star," Le Graet said.
The suspension comes with Benzema in peak
form, scoring five goals in his past two games for
Real Madrid.
He is easily France's best scorer with 27 goals in
81 international matches. Arsenal's Olivier Giroud
is the next highest scorer with 13 in 45 matches.
Benzema also missed the 2010 World Cup.
Former coach Raymond Domenech left him out of
his squad in the wake of another scandal, when
Benzema and teammate Franck Ribery were
handed preliminary charges for soliciting an
underage prostitute. Both were acquitted.
At last year's World Cup in Brazil, Benzema scored
three goals as France reached the quarterfinals.
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