Why change my post for its the truth the prostitutes were underage girls

Four French Internationals Called By Police As Witnesses In Sex Scandal – Report
Franck Ribery, Sidney Govou, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa have been named, but each is only a witness...

By Robin Bairner
Apr 21, 2010 1:14:00 PM


Franck Ribery has endured a turbulent campaign with Bayern Munich, but his injury-plagued year has suffered another difficult twist as L’Equipe has broken the news that he has been questioned as a witness over a prostitution scandal.

A story was broken on Sunday by television channel M6 that suggested that there were a handful of French international footballers implicated in the investigation, which centres around Parisian nightclub Cafe Zaman. Lepoint.fr, meanwhile, has named one of the other men involved as Olympique Lyonnais’ Sidney Govou, though the player’s lawyer has since denied that this is the case. Le Parisien has stated that two of the other players embroiled in this case, one plays in Spain and the other the south of France. Unnamed judicial sources told the French media that Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa are expected to be questioned in coming days as witnesses in the inquiry.

The players, who are protected by French privacy laws, have been called upon to leave evidence in a case regarding another unnamed party who is said to have had sex with a prostitute under the legal age of consent in France, though he has said that he was unaware that she was under 18 at the time.

Sophie Bottai, lawyer for the FCB star, released a statement to the press that said that this case “does not concern” her client, though she confessed that he is being subject to questioning. “My client was called as a witness, but had no other part to play in this matter,” she said. “The matter stops there.”

Thierry Braillard, counsel for Govou, told the media: “My client wishes to assert the he is not remotely related to any pimping network. This affair wounds him deep because it affects his family and their honour.”

"It's absolutely not me," Ben Arfa told L'Equipe. Even if his client were summoned by the police tomorrow, added his lawyer, "that would change nothing."

Benzema's agent, Karim Djaziri, also spoke out in defence of his client. "Karim has not been questioned. He has nothing to do with this affair," he told LePost.fr.

The FFF (Federation Francaise de Football) have responded to this case coolly, with a press release stating: “The French FA have learned about the prostitution scandal which implicates simply as witnesses at this stage some footballers from the France team. In this context the FFF would like to make the following remarks:

"The FFF would like to highlight their commitment to the principle of the presumption of innocence. The Federation has every confidence in the justice system to carry the investigation through and identify those possibly responsible.

"Not having access to the case, the Federation will abstain from any comment until the courts have given their conclusions, all the while remaining aware of the development of the proceedings and of their consequences.''

The crimes cited in this case carry a maximum three-year prison sentence and a fine of €45,000. Four men are presently in jail over this scandal, with the owner of the Zaman, as well as three “intermediaries to the world of the night” also behind bars.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/90/france/2010/04/21/1885503/four-french-internationals-called-by-police-as-witnesses-in

For some reason, our international feed, PA, has not run a line on it yet, which is very odd as they are normally very good.

But another source at the FFF who wished to remain anonymous said: "This is yet another blow for the French team."

Just for the record, we're not censoring this story by not running it.

For some reason, our international feed, PA, has not run a line on it yet, which is very odd as they are normally very good.

Star footballer Franck Ribery caught in underage prostitute scandal

The French football team's image, already dented after the Thierry Henry handball controversy, has taken another major hit with the sex scandal enveloping members of the team including star player Franck Ribery.

A police inquiry into an affair of prostitution involving an under-age call girl could not have come at a worse time for Raymond Domenech and his players just 50 days before the start of the World Cup.

The official line on Monday from the French Football Federation (FFF) and the national team's sponsor, adidas, was that "This relates to a private matter, there is no reaction to make."

But another source at the FFF who wished to remain anonymous said: "This is yet another blow for the French team."

While substance in the form of results on the pitch is crucial, image plays a major part too in a team's preparations for an event of the magnitude of the World Cup.

Especially when the team, France, are among the traditional favourites to be crowned world champions after their exploits in winning the 1998 World Cup on home soil and then making the final in Germany in 2006.

So when it emerges that a player of the stature of the 27-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Ribery could face a spell in prison for having sexual relations with an under-age prostitute it's hard to underestimate the damage that has on team morale.

Ribery was questioned by police investigating the affair last week and on Monday it emerged that he admitted having sexual relations with a prostitute, but denied knowing that she was a minor, according to judicial sources.

Ribery and an entire nation of football fans now face an anxious wait to find out whether the judge leading the inquiry will bring charges against arguably the most gifted player in Domenech's squad.

If charged and found guilty Ribery, who is married and has two daughters, could face a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of 45,000 euro ($65,000).

The affair has produced damaging headlines in newspapers beyond France's borders.

In Spain sports daily Marca described it as "a major scandal at the heart of French football and the national team...if the scandalous details are confirmed".

In England, The Times carried the story on its news pages, saying: "The reputation of France's national football team was under scrutiny after two players were questioned by police in connection with a prostitution ring."

Another piece in the same paper was more direct, suggesting that Domenech needed this latest blow "like a bullet in the head".

For sure Domenech has plenty on his plate at the moment without this latest damaging distraction which comes after Henry's infamous handball which led to the goal that sent France to South Africa at the expense of the Republic of Ireland last November.

That incident cast a black cloud over France's qualification for the 2010 finals with Henry forced to make a public apology and even talk at one stage of the play-off being replayed.

Headlines such as "the hand of frog" made uncomfortable reading.

The French manager, who only held on to his job by the skin of his teeth after France's disappointing Euro 2008 campaign, is also having to contend with injuries to key players like William Gallas ahead of his World Cup squad announcement due on May 23.

Domenech, who has spoken recently about chasing "egos" out of his camp, has also had the disappointment of seeing his side handed a footballing masterclass by European champions Spain in a recent World Cup warm-up.

That 2-0 defeat suggested France will have their work cut out to make it past the first round in South Africa.

AFP