FFF president: Benzema still available for France selection

Karim Benzema

will still be part of the

selection notwithstanding his one-year suspended prison sentence on Wednesday, according to French Football Federation (FFF) president

Noel Le

Graet

.

The

striker has to pay €75,000 in fine after he was found guilty of complicity in trying to blackmail his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

The France international, who denied the allegations and did not attend the court in Versailles when the verdict was given, plans to appeal the decision.

The case is for June 2015 when Benzema is said to have pressured Valbuena to blackmail him in order for a sexually explicit tape not to be released to the public.

Benzema and Valbuena, who is now playing for Olympiacos, were eliminated from the France squad back then when the scandal came in the wake.

However, this year, Benzema was called up for the Euro 2020, ending his six-year absence and has now been playing under Didier Deschamps’ reign regularly.

"

I don't know what Karim and his lawyers will decide, but as far as the Federation is concerned, there is no change,"

La Graet said, as quoted by L'Equipe. 

"He remains selectable, while regretting this unfortunate record. He did not play for several years with the France team. This sanction does not change anything for me. 

"He is selectable. Even if he does not appeal, for me, that does not change anything. He has the right to work." 

Benzema will be part of Los Blancos squad for the battle against Sheriff in the Champions League on Wednesday.

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