The prime minister of France Manuel Valls believes Karim Benzema should not be recalled to the national team with allegations of bribery against the Real Madrid striker still active.
As reported by BBC Sport, the 28-year-old recently had the ban restricting him from being in contact with international teammate Mathieu Valbuena lifted, meaning that Benzema was eligible for selection for this summer’s European Championship.
However, with the investigation about his involvement in a plot to blackmail Valbuena still ongoing, Valls believes Benzema should not be allowed to return to the field for Les Bleus.
While speaking to French broadcaster RMC, as reported by MSN, Valls said: “I think that the conditions have not yet been met for Karim Benzema to come into the France team. He is still under investigation.
“For young people, a great sportsman must be exemplary, (football) is our heritage, it’s not something that just interests amateur sports fans, so we have to be careful, all acts and decisions have their importance.”
In what seems to be a response, Benzema recently tweeted about the example he sets by highlighting his good disciplinary record on the pitch.
The 28-year-old wrote: “12 seasons that I am professional: 541 games played, 0 red card, 11 yellow cards! And some are doubting my good behaviour?”
Benzema’s potential inclusion in the France squad for Euro 2016 is a fierce debate at the moment, with most arguing that he shouldn’t be included until the investigation is over, whilst other point to his importance within the side.
Manager Didier Deschamps has recently said that he will defend Benzema until he is proven guilty, and he feels that the matter is something that should be decided between the two players.
Deschamps told L’Equipe: “I always defend my players, I have already said before that Karim has made a mistake. But it is not up to me judge how bad it was.
“There has been a lot of attention for this case in the media, too much in my
opinion. This is a private matter between two individuals. The judicial
system will deliver a verdict.
“Of course, it concerns two players who have been very important for us. People might say that I am always defending Karim, but he is innocent until proven otherwise. We cannot act like nothing has happened, but we don’t know all the facts.
“Karim has already said that he should not have talked about Mathieu like he did. But players these days use words that I would never have used when I played.
“But Karim’s public image does not correspond at all with how he really is. I don’t want to say too much about it or people will start saying I defend him too much. I love Karim just like I love all the other players. I try to understand him. There’s the man Benzema and then the player.
“I know what he’s been through, his qualities, but also his flaws. That interests me. I am not only talking about Karim, even if his situation gets a lot of attention. But I am not saying he does not deserve this, because he was the one who made a mistake.”
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