'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwf/2gAIAQEAAAAAeb//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAACf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAF/9oACAEDEAAAAEP/xAAfEAACAQQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEBhEhAAUSInL/2gAIAQEAAT8AvGyXtezKjtKvsBN4IqYih9mll05JY/PKWCqlpopDPkugbLHZ1z//xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgADEWH/2gAIAQIBAT8AKitsXk//xAAZEQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIDERP/2gAIAQMBAT8AgGgty//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Problems don’t seem to leave Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Yesterday he was charged with conspiracy to blackmail French international team mate Mathieu Valbuena. Within 24 hours there are reports of his involvement in one of France’s largest drug trafficking scandals, trafficking of cocaine.
French press has named this scandal as ‘Air Cocaine’. According to Le Point, the main suspect- “Daryan” or “Rayan” was found because of his links to the 27-year-old Real Madrid striker. This person has allegedly paid for and sponsored flights from France to the Dominician Republic and Ecuador. The two men who organised the flights, Frank Colin and Nicolas Pisapia stated that thie mastermind is a football agent and a big football fan.
Links between Daryan and Benzema is currently being investigated. Ali Bouchareb- another suspect in this case, was arrested last year. Many photos of Bouchareb and the 27-year-old striker and shoes autographed by the Real Madrid star were found when a raid was conducted in Ali’s house.
However Karim Djaziri, Benzema’s agent, thinks this can be just another fan. “I am not aware of this story and have never heard of a member of Karim Benzema’s entourage being imprisoned in Spain for drug trafficking. You know, Karim has 20 million fans on Facebook. Any madman can take selfies with him several times. It does not mean they are related,” he said while asked about the accusations.
On Thursday November 6, Benzema was accused for being a middle man between Valbuena and a criminal group that had in their possession a sex tape involving the Lyon star. The Real Madrid striker was charged with "complicity in an attempt to blackmail" and also conspiring to commit a criminal act.
During the court proceedings, Benzema admitted his role. A source told Eurosport, “Karim Benzema has recognised that he intervened with Valbuena at the request of a childhood friend approached by three crooks who had a sex tape in their possession. He said that he agreed with a childhood friend about what he would say in order that his team-mate would negotiate exclusively with him."
In the meantime, this morning Valbuena has put up an image of Benzema and him as his facebook profile photo- probably to support his French teammate.
