Soccer Star Karim Benzema Called In For Questioning Regarding Sex Tape Extortion

Real Madrid and France soccer star Karim Benzema is in hot water for allegedly trying to use a sex tape to blackmail another France midfielder, Mathieu Valbuena. He was called to the police station on Wednesday morning for questioning. Former France and Liverpool player, Djibril Cisse, was interviewed and released as part of the same investigation the night before.

The investigation, which began in July, centers around an attempt to blackmail Valbuena over a sex tape that recorded on a cell phone. The content of the tape is unknown and it has not been released to the public whether or not Benzema was the one blackmailing his teammate.

According to French reports, Benzema mentioned the video to Valbuena during a conversation in October. Authorities are trying to determine if he was offering advice or trying to press his Valbuena to pay the blackmailers. The blackmailers threatened to release the video before the 2016 European Championship. In France, attempted blackmail carries a maximum five-year prison sentence. Benzema says he just wants to clear his name.