Paris – France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema’s hopes of playing at Euro 2016 were given a huge boost on Friday after his lawyer confirmed legal restrictions placed on him over his alleged involvement in a sextape blackmail case had been lifted.
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Benzema, who is now sidelined with an injury, is facing preliminary charges of conspiracy to blackmail relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape involving France teammate Valbuena.
“Good sense has won the day”, Cormier told reporters.
A ban on seeing Valbuena was one of the conditions of Benzema’s release from custody and he has been ruled non-selectable for the national team ever since.
The investigating judge last month lifted that order, which was then appealed, yet on Friday the appeals court lifted the restriction, which should see the feared striker return to his national team’s set-up.
The French football federation also welcomed the judicial decision “as a first step”, adding it was allowed to join the case as plaintiff, meaning it will now have access to the case files.
“Benz” has netted 27 goals in 81 matches for Les Bleus.
According to French media, Benzema mentioned a sex tape to Valbuena during a national team training session at Clairefontaine on October 5, 2015.
His coach at Real Madrid, France’s three-time world player of the year Zinedine Zidane, has said he wants the affair cleared up “as soon as possible ” .
Valbuena and Benzema have played together for France since 2010.
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Tournament hosts France open Euro 2016 with a Group A clash against Romania at the Stade de France on June 10.
