Zinedine Zidane backs Karim Benzema following charge in sex tape case

MADRID: Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has backed forward Karim Benzema after he was charged by French prosecutors with being complicit in a conspiracy to blackmail his former France team mate Matthieu Valbuena in a case linked to a sex tape.

Investigators alleged that Benzema, who has denied wrongdoing, encouraged Valbuena to pay blackmailers in order that the tape would not be made public.

French prosecutors announced on Thursday that Benzema will have to stand trial for his alleged role in the affair that dates back to 2015.

"I support him completely, these aren't easy situations," Zidane told a news conference ahead of Saturday's La Liga trip to Osasuna.

"I can see that he's well, that he's not thinking about that and he's focused on the job at hand here. It's a tough situation and I hope that for everyone's sake it can be solved soon. He's working hard, which is what he enjoys doing and he wants to make everyone happy." Agencies

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