Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is reportedly set to stand trial for his alleged role in a sex tape scandal dating back to 2015.
Six years after being accused of attempted blackmail, the French forward will reportedly appear in court, according to the Associated Press.
Benzema was said to have been involved in trying to blackmail his former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena, who was believed to appear in a sex tape.
The report states that investigators believe the Los Blancos No. 9 was approached by a friend of his to "act as an intermediary and persuade Valbuena to deal directly with the blackmailers".
It is further claimed Benzema was alleged to have pressured Valbuena to pay the blackmailers.
Valbuena reportedly took the issue to police, which led to Benzema spending a night in jail in 2015 and charges.
The forward has not featured for his country since his apparent involvement in the scandal, with the FFF president explaining his decision at the time.
"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," he said.
"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."
Spanish giants Real have always supported the 33-year-old, while Zinedine Zidane recently called him the best French striker in history.
Benzema has denied his alleged role in the scandal, with his lawyer saying on Thursday that "this decision is as much absurd as it was predictable."
