Benzema arrested over sex-blackmail tape

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was arrested on Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation over the attempted blackmail of fellow French international Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape.

   Benzema arrived in Paris from Madrid early on Wednesday morning and went to a police station close in Versailles near Paris, where he was arrested, local prosecutors confirmed.

   Four other people, including former French international Djbril Cisse, were arrested last month in connection with the same case. Cisse was arrested on Oct. 13, but was released without charge after being questioned by investigators.

   Benzema's name had been mentioned in relation to the case on Oct. 15 when the 'Le Parisien' newspaper said his name had appeared "peripherally" in wiretaps as police investigated the case.

   Valbuena, who currently plays for Olympique Lyon in French Ligue 1, had made a complaint to police in June this year, saying he had been asked to pay 150,000 euros (165,000 U.S. dollars) in order to stop a supposed sex tape on him and his partner being posted on the internet.   

   It is not the first scandal Benzema has been involved in: last year saw a French court drop a case against him and Bayern Munich winger Frank Ribery for soliciting an underage prostitute, while last Thursday he was stopped by Spanish police for driving without a license.

   It is the second time Benzema has been stopped for the same offense since having his license suspended in March for driving "way over the speed limit." He was also caught speeding in 2013 and had two car accidents in 2009.  Endi