Karim Benzema should 'no longer be in the France team', suggests French prime minister Manuel Valls

Facing the axe: Karim Benzema has not featured for France since being charged
(VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
Tom Dutton1 December 2015

France's prime minister Manuel Valls has suggested Karim Benzema should not be welcomed back into the France national team until an investigation against him reaches a verdict.

Benzema has not played for Les Bleus since being charged with conspiracy to blackmail and participating in a criminal group earlier this month.

The investigation centres around a sex tape involving team-mate Mathieu Valbuena.

Benzema, who has scored 27 goals for his national side, is considered Dider Deschamps's first-choice centre forward, but reports in France suggest his chances of making the Euro 2016 squad are now 'very improbable'.

And - though the French prime minister did not name the Real Madrid star directly - Valls was speaking in response to a question about Benzema when he said sportsmen should set good examples or be axed.

"If a government minister was under investigation, he would no longer be in government," he told French radio.

"It should be the same for the French team."

"I am, first and foremost, a supporter of the France team. I cannot comment on all events relating to the France team and this or that person.

"But a great sportsman should be exemplary. If he is not exemplary, he has no place in the France team."

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