Six and a quarter years later, the "sex tape" scandal is finally over.
French footballer KarimBenzema waived Saturday's appeal against Mathieu Valbuena's trial, ratifying his suspended sentence of one year.
Real Madrid's superstar player was sentenced to a suspended sentence in prison and a 75,000 penalty at the first instance by Versailles Criminal Court for his complicity with attempted blackmail.
The Versailles Court of Appeal will notify the parties of the withdrawal order on Tuesday.
Me Vigier, Karim Benzema's attorney, previously stated to the daily L'Equipe, "This withdrawal confirms a conviction and apparently guilt." It is a legal fact. However, this is not reality," commented the new lawyer, seized by the player last March, with sports daily.
The 34-year old footballer was the only one of five who were convicted of attempted blackmail and complicity to appeal his criminal sanction. His former lawyer Me Antoine Vey had indicated that Benzema would be present during the new trial and that he would be retried for attempted blackmail or complicity on June 30th and July 1st at the Versailles Court of Appeal.
The Versailles Criminal Court ruled that the footballer "personally insisted himself, at the price of subterfugee and lies to convince his teammate into blackmail".
According to its president, the striker displayed "no benevolence towards Mathieu Vallbuena, quite contrary" and "acted with a certain excitement, even joy",
This renunciation ends one of the most controversial extra-sporting cases in recent years. Six and a quarter years have passed since these events. They occurred during a French team rally at Clairefontaine training centre (Yvelines), in October 2015. Benzema had a conversation with his teammate regarding a compromising clip.
This case will continue until the trial in Versailles, which will be held in the fall 2021. Valbuena was present, but Benzema was absent. According to his advice, Benzema's busy schedule at Real Madrid restrained him from attending the trial.
This file will have an impact on the rise of the French international. He was absent from the Blues for over five years, before surprising return to Didier deschamps' team just before the Euro 2021.
Benzema, although he has always maintained his innocence in the matter, is now an indisputable executive of the tricolor selection, which will challenge his title as world champion in November in Qatar.
Benzema expressed several times his desire to see the judicial page turn as quickly as possible. The player posted on Instagram, "Here is finally vamonos (let’s go)," when the dates for his trial for "complicity and attempted blackmail" were revealed.
This is because the announcement of the renunciation occurs just a few hours following a match of Blues against Denmark in Saint-Denis. The goal was scored by Benzema, a recent winner of the 5th Champions League, and a big favorite for the Ballon d'Or award, which is the highest individual award in football.
