He claimed he was only here to help, but the judges didn’t believe him. Karim Benzema, Real Madrid striker and France international was found guilty today and sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence and a 75,000 euro fine for complicity in attempted blackmail. This was the maximum fine required. The suspended prison sentence is even greater than that required (ten months in prison).Breaking | Karim Benzema handed 1 year suspended prison sentence & a €75k fine after being found guilty of complicity in the act of blackmail of Mathieu Valbuena.— Get French Football News (@GFFN) November 24, 2021 The court did however acknowledged that Benzema did not realize the criminal nature of his acts.“It was clearly stated by the court that Karim Benzema was not aware of the preliminary maneuvers. We are quite stunned by this judgment. The appeal is necessary because Karim Benzema has nothing to do with it reproach himself. He will be exonerated at the height of this appeal” said his attorneys right after the verdict. Benzema was not present, as he is with Real Madrid team which is in Tiraspol, ahead of Champions League match with Sheriff. ž#AnnounceBenzema?Done. ✅After a long negotiation period, we are delighted to announce the arrival of Karim Benzema to the #IronBars family! pic.twitter.com/qESuGbxjTZ— Prison FC (@PrisonAFC) November 24, 2021 Immediate consequences? None apparently, apart from morale ones. First of all, he will complain about the verdict, and it might be overturned. Second, just after the hearing ended, about a month ago, French football federation president Noel Le Graet, was quick enough to say that Benzema “will not be excluded” from selection for the national team if a guilty verdict is delivered against him in a sex tape trial. “The coach will always remain responsible for his selection, and Benzema will not be excluded from a possible judicial sanction, explains the president of the FFF. Even if he receives a suspended prison sentence, he still has the possibility to appeal a conviction. So his summons, or not, in the coming months will not be linked to this judgment” Le Graet said. Sex, Lies, and Videotape – Benzema trial without BenzemaBenzema is also sentenced to pay 80,000 euros for Mathieu Valbuena, 1 euro for moral damage, and 1000 euros to the FFF for costs incurred during the procedure. Zenati, a repeat offender, is sentenced to 15 months in prison, a sentence that will be amended, and a fine of 3,000 euros. Houass takes 18 months suspended prison sentence. Angot is sentenced to two years in prison, a sentence that will be amended. As for Zouaoui, he receives two and a half years in prison, a sentence that cannot be adapted and therefore with a committal warrant, and a fine of 3,000 euros. “Mathieu Valbuena is relieved at the end of this procedure because the last few years have been trying. He has suffered sports injuries that are difficult to repair. He faced this ordeal with courage, discretion and honesty. We are. Satisfied that his status as a victim has been recognized. My client was above all expecting recognition of his status as a victim. He had it, he is satisfied, he does not expect an apology from anyone” Didier Domat, Mathieu Valbuena’s lawyer said.
