Varsky: "Benzema's great moment" 2:52
(CNN) -
French forward Karim Benzema will face trial for his alleged involvement in a scheme to blackmail his former teammate Mathieu Valbuena in 2015, the Versailles Court prosecutor confirmed to CNN.
The case is related to the existence of a sex video in which Valbuena appears.
Benzema is accused of pressuring Valbuena, who played alongside the Real Madrid star on the French national team, to pay blackmailers to prevent the video from being made public.
Benzema must answer to the charge of "complicity in attempted blackmail," according to the prosecutor.
Karim Benzema
Four other men, who were not named, were implicated in the case for attempted blackmail, the prosecutor told CNN.
One also faces an additional charge for breach of trust.
When the investigation began, Benzema, who was suspended by the French national team as a result, denied the allegations.
He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
Benzema is out of the French national team due to blackmail investigation
In 2015, when asked by the daily Le Monde if he held Benzema responsible, Valbuena said he was "very, very, very disappointed" with his former partner, whom he said had shown a "lack of respect" towards him.
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Benzema has scored 27 goals in 81 appearances for the French national team, but has not represented his country since the Valbuena incident.
Representatives for Benzema and Valbuena did not respond to requests for comment from CNN.
Benzema's lawyer, Sylvain Cormier, told Reuters: “Unfortunately we are not surprised by this decision, which is as absurd as expected.
“I am dismayed to note that one is forced to distort the elements gathered in the investigation to justify sending my client to court.
We will explain ourselves to the court judges to prove this abuse.
Cormier said in 2015 that Benzema "had not taken part in this blackmail attempt" and that the case had been made public "in a fallacious manner".
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Real Madrid supported Benzema at the time and President Florentino Pérez said the player's actions were "in good faith."
Benzema has scored more than 250 goals for Real Madrid and has won four European Cups and three La Liga titles with the Spanish club.
Valbuena, 36, currently plays for Olympiacos, the Greek champion, whom he joined in 2019. During his career he has also played for Marseille and Lyon in France and Fenerbahce in Turkey.
He has not represented the French national team since the incident with Benzema.
Karim Benzema