Karim Benzema

French football boss: Don't punish 'stupid like a donkey' Benzema

Published Jan. 20, 2016 2:14 p.m. ET

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French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has urged Karim Benzema be forgiven for his involvement in Mathieu Valbuena sex-tape plot.

The Real Madrid striker has been charged with complicity in an attempt to blackmail his international teammate and participating in a criminal conspiracy.

Benzema has been suspended from representing France in the meantime, throwing his participation in Euro 2016 into question – a competition for which the French are the host nation.

However, Le Graet insists Benzema simply “got carried away” and should not be treated too harshly.

“Maybe I have protected Karim excessively in this matter, but I really like him and we all make mistakes,” Le Graet told Paris Breizh Media.

“He got carried away by stupidity in this case. He has been stupid like a donkey. But I don’t believe in lecturing people.

“There are good and bad people in all environments, among teachers, among businessmen, anywhere.

“Benzema comes from a difficult environment and he got carried away.

“Karim is a guy I really like. People talk to me about the way he expresses himself, but we take everyone as they are. Football is like that.”

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