Karim Benzema Held In Custody For Ex-Teammate Mathieu Valbuena’s Blackmail Sex Tape

French striker Karim Benzema, who is part of the starting lineup for Real Madrid, has been arrested and questioned by French authorities for his involvement in a blackmail scandal involving an ex-teammate.

Yesterday, Benzema was summoned by authorities to a police station in Versailles to ask him questions about his blackmailing of ex-teammate Mathieu Valbuena for an alleged sex tape that was recorded with a cell phone. According to The Guardian, authorities want to see if Benzema and Valbuena had a conversation during a French national team meeting and to see if it was “friendly advice or part of the plot.” Authorities also wanted to see if Benzema was part of a criminal entourage in exploiting Valbuena. After questioning, Benzema was held in a cell for the night before more questioning would be available for him.

Back in July, former French and Liverpool striker Djibril Cissé was questioned for his potential involvement in the blackmail case, in which he protested his innocence throughout and was eventually released from questioning. In France, attempted blackmail is punishable by up to five years in prison if found guilty.

Photo: MADRID, SPAIN – OCTOBER 04: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring Real’s opening goal during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid at Vicente Calderon Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)