MADRID: Real Madrid's French forward Karim Benzema(R) vies with Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Diego Godin (C) and Atletico Madrid's Montenegrin defender Stefan Savic during the UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs Real Madrid CF at the Vicente Calderon stadium. - AFP

PARIS: Lyon midfielder Mathieu Valbuena yesterday launched an emotional attack on Karim Benzema over the sex-tape saga, accusing the Real Madrid star of "slander". "Slander is the weapon of the impotent, it is distressing !!! Justice will restore the truth," Valbuena posted on his Twitter account. Valbuena was responding to comments made by Benzema in French sports daily L'Equipe's online edition the day before.

Both men missed Euro 2016 on home soil after an investigation was launched into alleged blackmail in a sex-tape scandal featuring Valbuena which is likely to go to court in France later this year. Investigators suspect Benzema of acting as an intermediary between the presumed blackmailers, including childhood friend Valbuena. On Tuesday Benzema laid the blame for the fallout of the sex tape scandal squarely on the shoulders of Valbuena, the alleged victim.

He went as far as accusing Valbuena of lying just two days ahead of France naming their squad for upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifiers. "He called me scum, said I'd threatened him, made up all kinds of stuff," said Benzema, who remains in international exile with his last France appearance in October 2015. "He's dragged me through the dirt and sullied my family name," he said. "He's got to stop this nonsense."He's really got to stop making things up. His continued lying is driving me mad. It all came from him this sex-tape business. All he had to say was the truth about what really happened."

Benzema reveals Macron connection

Can Emmanuel Macron save Karim Benzema? Banned from the national team since November 2015 because of his suspected involvement in a corruption scandal, the Real Madrid striker may have found an unexpected supporter in the new French president. Benzema told L'Equipe newspaper yesterday that he met Macron before he started his political career and that they "stayed a bit in touch via messages." Benzema, the most talented striker of his generation, is facing charges relating to an extortion scam over a sex tape featuring France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

When the story broke in 2015, Benzema faced a deluge of criticism and then Prime Minister Manuel Valls landed a heavy blow when he said the former Lyon player had "no place" in the national team. Former French President Francois Hollande was also quoted as saying in a book last year that Benzema was not an example of morality. Benzema said he is not expecting Macron to intervene in his favor, but hopes the new president won't pillory him. "Maybe he'll speak about me in better words," Benzema said. "When your name is quoted by the prime minister (Valls), then by the French president (Hollande), it gets difficult."

The 29-year-old Benzema, who will feature in his third Champions League final next month when Madrid takes on Juventus, added that he met Macron "three or four times" and had dinner with him. Benzema has achieved another excellent season with Madrid and believes there is no obvious sporting reason for his repeated absence from France coach Didier Deschamps' lists of players. Benzema, whose last game with France dates back to October 2015, is not expected to make the cut when Deschamps announces his players for France's next three games on Thursday. "If the coach tells me straight into the eyes that it is because of soccer, then I will keep working," said Benzema, who has 27 international goals in 81 appearances. "If it's for another reason, then he should tell it to my face, and I will be done with him." - Agencies