Urgent.. Announcing the verdict against Karim Benzema in the "extortion" case

French international Karim Benzema, Real Madrid's top scorer, was convicted today of complicity in an attempt to blackmail his former teammate Matteo Valbuena with a sex tape and was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 75,000 euros.

The player's lawyers immediately announced the appeal of their 33-year-old client.

The Versailles court handed out sentences ranging from 18 months suspended to two and a half years in prison.

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