Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has hit back at French prime minister Manuel Valls and sports minister Patrick Kanner after both men made comments about his disciplinary record.
The striker is under investigation for his part in an alleged blackmail plot against international team mate Matieu Valbuena. Benzema is thought to have been involved in trying to extort money from the midfielder in exchange for getting rid of a sex tape that the Lyon man featured in.
The case has been ongoing since last autumn and Benzema had been banned from communicating with Valbuena. The Los Blancos man was also suspended from the French national side while the investigation and case in ongoing.
However, last week the ban on him communicating with Valbuena was lifting prompting speculation Benzema could be recalled to the Les Blues set up ahead of the European Championships this summer.
On Tuesday, Valls disagreed with the idea that Benzema should be recalled because he is not a good role model – despite not having been found guilty of anything.
“With respect to young people, a great sportsperson must be exemplary. I am neither the president of the FFF, nor Didier Deschamps. And it’s up to the coach to pick the best team possible. But I don’t think that the conditions have been met in order for Karim Benzema to return to the French team. He is still charged and you feel that there was something,” he told RMC radio.
Speaking to RTL on Monday, Kanner also said: “I think that when you sign a code of ethics to be a member of the French team you have to respect it and I think that at the moment the conditions have not been met on that subject for Mr. Benzema.”
But Benzema hit back on Twitter to both men who had questioned his disciplinary record.
He wrote: “I’ve been a professional for 12 seasons: 541 matches played 0 red cards 11 yellow cards!!! And some people talk whether I set an example???”
