Reports: Gerard Pique and Shakira held to ransom over sex tape

Pique and Shakira are apparently being blackmailed over a tape containing intimate scenes of the couple

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique and pop star wife Shakira are being blackmailed over a sex tape, Diario Vasco reports. It is understood that the celebrity couple are being held to ransom over a tape which allegedly contains intimate sexual acts of the couple.

There has been a worrying trend of top footballers being blackmailed over compromising and controversial video tapes in the recent past.

This is the second time that a controversy of this nature has come to light recently. Earlier, French International Karim Benzema was reportedly embroiled in the blackmail and extortion attempt on France teammate Mattieu Valbuena regarding a sex tape. Benzema is currently going through criminal investigations regarding the same.

It has been reported that a former employee has been blackmailing the high-profile couple for a large sum of money and has also been threatening the couple of distributing a video which apparently contains footage of the couple indulging in sexual acts if his demands weren’t met.

Neither of the parties have come forward and confirmed the claims. Interestingly, neither of them have denied the report either. However, it should also be noted that major Spanish media houses have ignored this development.

Current Spanish laws dictate that if the perpetrator was indeed found guilty of a criminal blackmailing attempt, it would carry a five-year term in jail.

Article 243 of the Spanish Penal Code says: "Anyone who, for profit, obliges another, with violence or intimidation, to do or omit an act or legal business to the detriment of its assets or a third party shall be punishable imprisonment of one to five years, subject to which they may be imposed for acts of physical violence made."

Pique and international pop sensation Shakira have been in a relationship since 2011 and have two children, Milan and Shasha.