VALBUENA CASE
Valbuena judge asks for lifting of judicial order on Benzema
The Real Madrid forward had been prevented from contacting or meeting his international teammate. If approved, the player will be available for France.
French radio station RTL has reported that the judge investigating the case of alleged extortion involving Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and his international teammate Mathieu Valbuena, has asked that a judicial order preventing Benzema from associating with or contacting Valbuena be lifted.
If the result of judge Nathalie Boutard’s petition is positive, Benzema will be able to share a dressing room with Valbuena and therefore be available for the France national team and the 2016 European Championship. After the details of the case reached the public sphere, the France Football Federation took the decision to make Benzema unavailable for selection to Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps.
However, RTL also noted that the potential lifting of the judicial order does not mean that Benzema cannot be charged at a later date if his involvement in the case, which centres around an alleged blackmail attempt against Valbuena, is proven.
Last week, Le Parisien reported that Benzema had given testimony to Boutard in a behind closed doors hearing.