The French Football Federation (FFF) has indefinitely suspended Karim Benzema from playing with the national team until the Mathieu Valbuena blackmail case is resolved.
The president of the French federation Noel Le Graet announced that the Real Madrid striker will be no longer picked by Didier Deschamps for any international game until the situation is clarified.
“I have decided, it’s a decision from the president of the French federation and not from the executive committee or the ethics committee, that Karim Benzema cannot play for France until the situation evolves,” Le Graet said at a press conference.
Le Graet confessed the decision is “heartbreaking” and added that “as long as the judicial system has not decided that everything that has been published on Benzema is excessive, the federation will not change its mind.”
Benzema published a note on Twitter, claiming he respects the decision of the French federation. Real Madrid have also published an statement on their website, explaining they “regret” the suspension, although they “respect it”.
Benzema is the top scorer of all current French international players with 27 goals in 81 appearances for Les Bleus. Yet, he will most likely miss the European Championship, as the case is not expected to be solved before June.
