Alleged sex-tape blackmail plot victim Mathieu Valbuena appears in court to be questioned after Karim Benzema was charged

• France's Mathieu Valbuen appeared in Versailles court on Friday morning
• It was after the sex-tape blackmail plot that saw Karim Benzema charged
• Benzema trained with Real Madrid on Friday ahead of El Clasico

By Pa

Published: 08:29 EST, 20 November 2015 | Updated: 10:46 EST, 20 November 2015

Mathieu Valbuena appeared before a judge on Friday in relation to the sex-tape blackmail scandal that has seen Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema charged.

The hearing began at about 9.30am in a court in Versailles ‒ a town on the outskirts of Paris ‒ hours before Valbuena was due to play for French club Lyon against Nice.

The 31-year-old is to be questioned about a conversation he had with Benzema on October 5 at the France national training centre in Clairefontaine.

France's Mathieu Valbuena (second from left) gets into a car outside the Versailles court on Friday

Valbuena appeared before a judge on Friday morning in relation to the sex-tape blackmail scandal

Didier Domat, lawyer of France midfielder Valbuena, speaks to the press outside the Versailles court

It will be in a bid to determine whether Benzema acted as a friend or a blackmailer during the conversation.

A source said Benzema admitted approaching Valbuena about the tape on behalf of 'childhood friend', Karim Zenati, who himself had been contacted by blackmailers in possession of the footage.

But Benzema's lawyer said the player was innocent and 'has admitted nothing at all'.

Investigators have recordings of a telephone conversation on October 6 with Zenati during which Benzema tells his friend about his conversation with Valbuena the previous day.

'I did have a conversation with Zenati on the way to approach the subject with Mathieu Valbuena,' Benzema told investigators, 'but without a second thought. 

'That Karim Zenati benefited from it wasn't my aim, I didn't think about it, I'm frankly shocked, I feel stupid when I see that.'

Both players were left out of the France squad for the recent friendly against Germany, which was disrupted by suicide attackers outside the Stade de France last Friday. They were also absent for the game against England at Wembley the Tuesday after.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema pictured during training on Friday morning ahead of El Clasico

The blackmail case began in June, when Valbuena lodged a complaint with police after being telephoned by an unknown person who said he had the sex tape in his possession. 

Benzema was charged with conspiracy to blackmail and participating in a criminal group as part of the investigation involving Valbuena.

Benzema was charged after being brought before a judge at the Versailles court following a night spent in custody, the prosecutor's office said. The Madrid forward, who was freed pending further investigation, faces a maximum prison sentence of five years.

Benzema was also placed under judicial supervision, meaning he cannot meet with the victim or other people charged in the case. Investigators are trying to find out if he played a role in the extortion attempt targeting Valbuena, and if he actually tried to blackmail the Lyon midfielder.

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