Brazillian Karim Benzema was investigated over a sex tape involving former girlfriend Zahia Dehar
A French court has thrown out an appeal against a two-year jail sentence handed to Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema in a sex tape case, after concluding he had used “subterfuge and lies”.
Benzema, 27, was found guilty in January of using “subterfuge and lies” to try to get permission to pass information on the sex tape to former girlfriend Zahia Dehar to blackmail her.
That began when his name was mentioned as a suspect in the case.
He had appealed against the verdicts.
On Saturday, Judge Tinele Sagnierens said Benzema’s “dispute with Dehar concerning the video tape led to a false trial and detention”, adding he had been “systematically mismanaged” from the outset.
Benzema told the court that Dehar, who has two children with him, had been encouraged to make false accusations after he refused to pay her huge sums for a sex tape she allegedly had.
Benzema has always denied blackmailing Dehar.
Despite his legal woes, Benzema played in Real Madrid’s opening two La Liga games, the 4-1 win at Real Betis and 2-0 victory at Atletico Madrid.
Both teams suffered opening-day defeats, with Real’s defeat followed by Atletico’s loss against Levante.
Madrid are fifth in the league, two points behind leaders Barcelona.