Karim Benzema claimed Wednesday that he was a victim of "persecution" in the sex-tape blackmail case which has rocked French football and insisted he is an innocent man.

"It is persecution," the Real Madrid star told French broadcaster TF1.

"They are accusing me, they are dragging my name through the mud as if I was a criminal. These are horrible things."

Benzema, 27, has been charged with complicity to blackmail and conspiring to commit a criminal act for his alleged participation in a blackmail case involving international teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex-tape.

The charges carry a maximum five years prison sentence.

Earlier, Benzema said his go-between role in the case had been misunderstood.

"I spoke with the heart with Mathieu Valbuena. When I heard about blackmail, that we demanded money, it makes me mad -- I don't need money," Benzema added in his TV interview, his first public statement on the scandal.
"I do not know the blackmailers. I am not guilty."

The blackmail case began in June, when Valbuena lodged a complaint with police after being telephoned by a man who said he had the sex tape.

Four men, including a friend of Benzema -- Karim Zenati -- were charged.

Benzema is alleged to have approached Valbuena about the images at a France national training camp on October 5.

The former Lyon star says he had no need of money nor did Zenati, as he was employed in one of Benzema's companies.

A police telephone tap however on Benzema and his calls to Zenati cast doubts on their attitude.
"I'm mad with myself for having talked that way on the phone, we went too far," Benzema said of comments that appeared to mock Valbuena.

On the wire tap issue, Benzema told TF1: "I am sorry I made a joke with my friend. I apologise to him (Valbuena) and his family."

The scandal is a serious distraction to France before they host Euro 2016 -- Benzema is forbidden to have any contact with Valbuena, 31, and neither was called up for France's recent friendlies against Germany and England.

In sporting terms Benzema is seen as France's top striker, but Les Bleus have a wealth of other attacking options and a record of leaving trouble-makers out of squads for international tournaments.

Valbuena, in his first public comments, told Le Monde last week he was "very, very, very disappointed" by Benzema.

The Real Madrid star said he hoped that one day he and Valbuena could be reunited in the French team.

"I hope it all turns out well for all of us, for Mathieu, myself and my mate (Zenati)," Benzema told TF1.

"I hope we get back in the France team and that we win the Euro."

There are already high-profile obstacles in the way of that ambition.

On Tuesday, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls suggested only players with exemplary records should represent France at Euro 2016.

However, Benzema's lawyer Alain Jakubowicz used an interview in Wednesday's Le Parisien newspaper to hit back at Valls.

"Is this a prime minister's words or those of a Barcelona fan talking about a Real Madrid player?" said Jakubowicz.

Valls hails from the Catalonia region and was in hot water himself in June for using a French government jet to fly himself and his son to Berlin to the Champions League final featuring Barcelona.
Source: AFP