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The scandal could see an investigation last more than a year, and if that were to happen, Didier Deschamps would leave both players out of the France squad next summer.
Mathieu Valbuena’s return to France in the summer was supposed to be the catalyst to allow the Lyon midfielder to secure a key role in Didier Deschamps’ plans for Euro 2016. However, a sequence of events has been set in motion that may prevent ‘Le Petit Velo’ from accomplishing his dream.
The former Marseille and Dinamo Moscow midfielder, who has already won 52 caps for his nation, scoring eight goals, has found himself the centre of a sex tape scandal, with a number of high-profile players reportedly embroiled in trying to blackmail him.
It was an investigation that first opened at the end of July but only became public knowledge in October, when Djibril Cisse was one of four people questioned by the police in relation to the case. Suggestions that the former Liverpool and Marseille striker might have been involved in any wrong doing were quickly quashed.
Last week, however, the story exploded into the national consciousness as Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema was detained in custody, leading to front page headlines in L’Equipe and extensive coverage in the media.
Sylvain Courmier, Benzema’s lawyer has insisted that the player “has done absolutely nothing wrong”, but last Thursday he was placed under formal investigation by Versailles police.
Seven months before France attempt to win their first European Championship since 2000, the scandal has arrived at an unwelcome moment for Deschamps, while it threatens to have very real repercussions for both men, and in particular Benzema.
For the Madrid forward, 27, this is not the first time he has appeared in the press for an unwelcome reason. Weeks before the 2010 World Cup, along with Franck Ribery, it was reported that he was being investigated for sleeping with an underage prostitute. Both men were eventually cleared of these claims in January 2014, when a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to suggest they were aware she was a minor, but the shadow of the Zahia Affair still lingers over the Lyon-born striker.
Benzema’s Spanish employers stood by him during that episode and Madrid have once again publicly offered their backing to the forward, who is their only natural No.9.
“The Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, held a meeting with the player in which he gave him his full support and expressed his confidence that his actions were in good faith and that he is completely innocent,” the 10-time European champions announced in a statement on Friday.
And these words have been backed up behind the scenes - a stance that the Bernabeu outfit may only change should the forward be proven guilty. As such, his place in the squad is not under any threat.
Madrid are also confident that the Frenchman will be able to overcome the psychologic strain of the investigation and are keen to get him back in action as quickly as possible to allow him something of a return to normality.
As the accused, Benzema clearly has more on the line. If the case was to progress and he were to be found guilty, he could be subject to a five-year prison sentence.
Yet it is probable that Valbuena will also suffer professionally. Due to the complexities of French law, the pair may not be allowed to contact each other during the investigation, depending on the opinion of the judge overseeing the case, which would make it impossible for Deschamps to call both simultaneously to the nation squad.
They have been omitted for the forthcoming friendlies against Germany and England; Benzema because he has been carrying a thigh injury and Valbuena because “he is not in the best of conditions psychologically”, according to Deschamps.
The coach, however, could equally have left the playmaker out in the cold due to his mediocre club form. He was signed by Lyon to carry an offensive burden this term and replace the perma-injured Yoann Gourcuff in the No.10 role. His failure to find his A-game has contributed heavily towards the comparatively poor start to the season OL had endured until recent weeks.
The off-field stress of this case offers a strong rationale for his relative impotence since arriving at Stade Gerland, though Valbuena has shown glimpses of his undoubted quality for Lyon, most notably in the away match against Marseille and in Sunday’s superb home derby win over Saint-Etienne.
Prior to the weekend’s game, club coach Hubert Fournier admitted that he would have to consider the mentality of the player before selecting him.
“The case pollutes the life of Mathieu and, indirectly, ours too,” Fournier admitted. “We’re involved in this matter in spite of ourselves.
“When you have a team-mate going through this, you sympathise. Of course it’s not the best way to prepare for a game.”
Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons also offered his backing to the playmaker prior to the derby: “Mathieu’s very strong mentally, but these things are difficult to accept ... This isn’t easy for him, but he’s experienced. He’s gone through difficult things in his career, so he knows what to do or what not to do.”
Valbuena’s response against Saint-Etienne offered backing to these words. Once released from Bordeaux’s youth system for being too small, the size of his heart has never been questioned, as he proved once again. Had it not been for Alexandre Lacazette’s blistering hat-trick, he would have claimed the man of the match award.
If Deschamps is forced to pick between one or the other – and that has not been confirmed – he will opt to pick neither.
The coach has purposefully built his France side around the collective unit and has avoided prioritising individuals. If losing both men due to this case were to prove a major blow to the strength of the squad, he would rather this than risk destabilising the entire group by selecting Benzema.
France are fortunate in that there is a wealth of depth in each role, yet the loss of two stars would undoubtedly weaken them, particularly in attack, where Benzema is by far their most prolific and experienced option.
Euro 2016 under threat for both players due to the case, as the enquiry is set to be long and drawn out.
“It would have been faster had it been brought directly before a court, but an investigation has been ordered. Every party must be heard, so it will be over a far longer period,” sports lawyer Michel Pautot toldGoal.
“It could last months, perhaps more than a year, in my opinion.”
So there will be no quick fix for Benzema or Valbuena, whose Euro 2016 aspirations may have been decisively jeopardised in the most unexpected of manners.
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