Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was arrested on Wednesday in connection to a sex-tape extortion case involving Mathieu Valbuena, a teammate of Benzema’s on the French Men’s National team.
According to TMZ, Benzema spent the night in jail and has now been formally charged with “complicity in an attempt to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act.”
The charges stem from a July conversation between the teammates, and investigators are trying to decide “if Benzema was giving Valbuena friendy advice on how to handle the situation or trying to extort him.”
Benzema has firmly stated his innocence in the case, and if convicted, would serve up to 5 years in French prison.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.