Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has stood trial in absentia for his alleged involvement in a plot to blackmail his former team-mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.
The former Lyon forward is accused of trying to extort money from his fellow Frenchman ahead of a friendly against Armenia five years ago.
He has been charged with complicity in the attempted blackmail of Valbuena, but was not in court when the trial started on Wednesday. Benzema has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
Blackmailers threatened to release a sex tape in which Valbuena appeared unless they were paid off, and Benzema is alleged to have encouraged his former team-mate to pay the group.
However, Valbuena alerted authorities instead of dealing with the blackmailers directly, and Benzema was exiled from the France national team once his alleged role in the scandal came to light.
