Madrid forward Benzema absent for blackmail trial in France
By JOHN LEICESTER
Associated Press
VERSAILLES, France (AP) — The trial of French soccer player Karim Benzema and four others has begun outside Paris without the Real Madrid forward in attendance. Benzema has been accused of being involved in an attempt to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape. Benzema played for Madrid in Kyiv on Tuesday in the Champions League. Benzema’s legal team told the court in Versailles that his obligations as a player made it “impossible” for him to attend the first day of the trial. Valbuena was in court. The trial is expected to run through Friday. The 33-year-old Benzema has denied wrongdoing.