Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been convicted of sex tape blackmail by a French court.
The 33 years old was one of five people put on trial in October for an attempt to extort compatriot Mathieu Valbuena.
The incident happened in 2015 when the two players were in France training camp. Both players lost their national team places at the time.
According to the report, Benzema pressurised Valbuena to pay off some blackmailers who he has apparently conspired with to act as an intermediary.
Benzema has since denied the allegation, insisting he was only trying to help his national teammate get rid of the compromising sex video.
Both players were not present at the court during the judgement on Wednesday.
Here are the two severe punishments Benzema has been handed.
- Suspended jail term: Benzema will serve a one year suspended jail term for his involvement in the crime.
A suspended sentence is a sentence on conviction for a criminal offence, the serving of which the court orders to be deferred in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation.
If the defendant does not break the law during that period and fulfills the particular conditions of the probation, the judge usually dismisses the sentence. If the defendant commits another offence or breaks the terms of probation, the court can order the sentence to be served, in addition to any sentence for the new offence.
- Fine: In addition to his suspended jail term, Benzema has been ordered to pay a fine.
The court ordered the Real Madrid player to pay a €75,000 (£63,000; $84,000) fine.
Benzema made a surprise return to the French national team in May, five years after his exile from the side.
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