Karim Benzema took to Twitter to confirm that France have not selected him for the 2016 European Championship. The Real Madrid striker has been embroiled in a legal battle, being accused of blackmailing France national teammate Mathieu Valbuena, which has resulted in Didier Deschamps opting to leave out Benzema.
The Frenchman had awaited his fate, saying he would remain “serene in life, stay quiet and wait” as Didier Deschamps and FFF President Noel Le Graet scheduled a special meeting to discuss the case and make a decision before Friday.
However, it seems the result of the meeting is bad news for Benzema, who took to Twitter to make the announcement that he will be missing this summer’s European Championship.
Benzema tweeted “Unfortunately for me and for all those who have me always supported and supported. I am not selected for our Euro in France.”
The Real Madrid striker was suspended earlier in the season after being implicated in a sex-tape blackmail case involving Mathieu Valbuena, last appearing for France on October 8th, 2015 against Armenia, having been left out of France’s sqauds since then.
Benzema denies sex-tape blackmail of Valbuena
The case that has resulted in Benzema being thrown out of the French national team involves an attempt by one of Benzema’s ‘childhood friends’ to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena over the release of a sex-tape. Benzema claims that he had only interceded to ‘advise’ Valbuena to listen to his friend, insisting that he did not involve himself in any blackmail.
Benzema’s lawyer has reiterated that statement, saying “He played no part, I repeat no part, in any blackmail or attempted blackmail.”
Benzema was left out against friendlies involving Holland and Russia in March after a judge overseeing the case ruled that Valbuena and Benzema could not meet in person, which resulted in Benzema being left out of the squad for purely logistical reasons.
However, after the judge removed the restrictions, the door was left open for Benzema to make a return, but it seems that Deschamps and Noel Le Graet have heeded the words of France’s sporting minister, who opposed Benzema’s return, saying “human values must be taken into consideration.”
While Benzema will be naturally disappointed, Real Madrid’s current resurgence will provide with him some succour, as Benzema’s club side overcame Wolfsburg in the Champions League recently.
