Euro 2016

Karim Benzema not selected for France's Euro 2016 campaign

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 13 April 2016

The French Football Federation confirms that Karim Benzema will not be selected for Euro 2016 due to his alleged involvement in a sex-tape blackmail plot.

The French Football Federation has confirmed that Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema will not be selected for Euro 2016.

The 28-year-old was suspended indefinitely from the squad last December over his alleged part in a blackmail plot involving national teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

Police launched an investigation into allegations that a friend of Benzema's attempted to extort money from Valbuena over a sex tape believed feature the Lyon footballer and his partner.

Due to the investigation, Benzema is not permitted to play for France, and the forward revealed on Twitter that he will not be given a place in the squad for their home Euros this summer.

He tweeted: "Unfortunately for me and for all those who have always supported me, I will not be selected for our Euro in France."

The France Football Federation confirmed the news via a statement, which read: "[Head coach] Didier Deschamps and [president] Noel Le Graet met to discuss the situation of Mr Benzema.

"The president of the federation and the coach would agree that athletic performance is an important but not exclusive criteria for selecting the France national team.

"The ability of players work towards unity, in and around the group, are also taken into account. As a result, Noel Le Graet and Didier Deschamps decided that Karim Benzema will not participate in Euro 2016."

Benzema has scored 27 goals in 32 appearances for club and country this season.