Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery both French International footballers are to face trial for the alleged solicitation of an underage as sex companion.
The two French players are amongst the eight people being investigated by magistrate Dando Andre after which he decided to send the Real Madrid and Bayern Munich players for trial.
Also under investigation and trial is the Zaman Cafe on Paris’ Champs Elysees where the meetings with the under aged Zahia Dehar took place and the other defendants according to Judicial sources will be prosecuted for aggravated pimping.
Paris prosecutors had in 2011 requested that the case against the two French football stars be dropped on the grounds that they did not know that Dehar was under 18.
Dehar, now 20, told police she was paid for sex with Ribery in 2009 and Benzema in 2008 when she was aged 16. She claimed that both players were not aware that she was under age.
The affair came to light during 2010 and tarnished the image of the France football team just weeks ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
Ribery, 29, plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and 24-year-old Benzema with Primera Liga giants Real Madrid.
Both face a possible three years in prison or a 45,000 euro fine.
Ribery and Benzema have been named in France coach Didier Deschamps’ squad for the friendly game against Uruguay in the northern city of Le Havre on Wednesday.
But Deschamps refused to comment on the situation, calling it “a delicate subject”.
