 The trial of Remedryd Ford Karim Benzema has opened in France. He is charged of complicity in the attempted blackmail of former international teammate Matthew Vabuena over a sex tape. Investigators allege that Benzema encouraged Vabuena to pay a group of alleged blackmailers in order to keep the sexually explicit tape out of the public eye. Benzema has denied wrongdoing and his lawyer has described the case against the player as absurd. He faces up to five years in jail and a 75,000 euro fine, if convicted.