FRANCE striker Karim Benzema was arrested Tuesday as part of an investigation into a blackmail case over a sex tape involving another player.

    A police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said that Benzema was put into custody after being summoned to a Versailles police station.

    Police are trying to find out what role the Real Madrid forward played in the extortion attempt targeting France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, and if he actually tried to blackmail the Lyon player.

    Former France international Djibril Cisse was briefly detained last month after being suspected of conspiracy to blackmail, a charge with a maximum jail sentence of five years. Cisse was released without seeing a judge.

    Benzema’s lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, said his client told the judge in charge of the case that he was available for questioning as soon as his name was mentioned in the media. Five years ago, preliminary charges were filed against Franck Ribery and Benzema for soliciting an underage prostitute. The case lasted three years before they were acquitted.

    (SD-Agencies)