Soccer

France need Karim Benzema says Robert Pires

Karim Benzema has been absent from the national squad since being interviewed by police in connection with an alleged blackmail plot against France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena
Karim Benzema has been absent from the national squad since being interviewed by police in connection with an alleged blackmail plot against France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena Karim Benzema has been absent from the national squad since being interviewed by police in connection with an alleged blackmail plot against France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena

ROBERT Pires claims France “need” Karim Benzema for this summer’s European Championship – a day after the French Football Federation’s president ruled he remains non-selectable.

Real Madrid striker Benzema has been absent from the national squad since being interviewed by police in connection with an alleged blackmail plot against France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

The case centres on the reported existence of a sex-tape showing Valbuena and his partner.

One of the terms of Benzema’s release from custody was that he should have no contact with Valbuena – effectively ruling him out of Didier Deschamps’ plans for Les Bleus.

And though the restriction was relaxed at a hearing last month, that decision is subject to an appeal and FFF chief Noel Le Graet is not yet ready to reconsider his stance on Benzema.

“The judicial process evolves every day,” he told L’Equipe. “We must follow this process and let the law finish its job.”