Retired footballer Djibril Cissé was interviewed in connection with the case recently, but was released and cleared of any wrongdoing.
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The judge will then decide whether Benzema should be charged or regarded as an “assisted witness”, which in French law means he has not been formally charged but could be in the course of the investigation.
Real Madrid star Karim Benzema will remain in custody overnight as French police continue their investigation into allegations that the 27-year-old plotted to blackmail Mathieu Valbuena, as per AP.
Three other people have been handed preliminary charges since October in that case.
The extortion case was opened in July.
AFP reported on Wednesday night (AEST) details of Benzema’s apparent arrest, with the striker having reportedly visited premises of judicial police before being placed in custody.
It is not the first scandal Benzema has been involved in.
“Karim Benzema will show his good faith in this matter as soon as possible”, said Benzema’s lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, adding that the charges arose from a question of interpretation.
Karim, who was rumored to have had a summer a fling with Rihanna, 27, earlier this year, plays for Real Madrid, while meanwhile Mathieu plays for opposing team, France.
Benzema’s name apparently came to the attention of police investigating the alleged blackmail after he mentioned the sex tape during a gathering of the French national team at Clairefontaine before Les Bleus met Armenia and Denmark.
Cisse was detained for questioning last month but was quickly released without charge.
Mr Benzema hid behind a white hoodie as he arrived at the police station this morning.
There have been different reports of the conversation, with one version suggesting that Benzema put pressure on Valbuena to pay, while another suggests that he advised him to cough up so he could put the whole incident behind him. Both were questioned in an investigation into a suspected network of prostitutes that operated out of a Paris nightclub.
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If found guilty, Benzema – whose salary in 2014 was US$9 million – could face a jail sentence of up to five years.
