Judge partially removes judicial curbs on Benzema

Paris, Feb 18: The prosecutor of Versailles announced on Thursday that the court considering the sex tape blackmailing case involving Real Madrid French forward Karim Benzema has decided to partially withdraw the order of judicial control against him, but he still cannot come into contact with his victim, teammate Matthieu Valbuena.

The judge lifted the ban that had been issued against Benzema to prevent him from contacting Valbuena, but an appeal by the prosecution forced court to suspend the implementation of the decision until the appeal is resolved, reports Efe.

Judge Nathalie Boutard maintained the ban against the Real Madrid forward to prevent him from contacting with other defendants in the case of allegedly blackmailing Valbuena with a sex tape involving the latter and his wife.

Therefore, in practice, the situation does not change for now to Benzema.

The French Football Federation has suspended Benzema from the national team waiting for information on the degree of his involvement in this alleged case of blackmail.

The lifting of the ban would open the door for Benzema and Valbuena to play together in the national team.