Karim Benzema drops his appeal against his suspended sentence
Real Madrid and France striker Karim Benzema's lawyer told the French sports newspaper L'Equipe today that Benzema has dropped the appeal against a one-year suspended prison sentence for his role in an attempt to blackmail a former colleague over a sex video.
The court also fined Benzema, 34, a fine of 75,000 euros ($84,170,000) and demanded that he pay his former teammate Matteo Valbuena 80,000 euros to cover legal costs and $150,000 jointly with the three other defendants in damages to Valbuena.
"My client is tired of this," Benzema's lawyer, Hughes Figger, told the French newspaper. "This withdrawal confirms the verdict and the clear conviction it upholds. This is a legal fact."
"But it is not the truth. Karim Benzema will always maintain his innocence in this case, and he did not seek to participate in the extortion process against Matteo Valbuena," the lawyer added.
The lawyer also confirmed to AFP that Benzema had dropped the appeal.
Reuters was not immediately able to reach Figer's lawyer.
Earlier, French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet said that Benzema would not be excluded from the national team if he was convicted and given a suspended sentence.
Benzema, who made a remarkable performance this season, was in the Real Madrid squad that won the Champions League last month and won the tournament's top scorer title as well.
Yesterday, Benzema scored his 37th international goal in his 95th match with France, which ended with Denmark's 2-1 victory in the European Nations League.
Benzema is a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or award as the best player in the world this season.
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