Benzema arrested by French police

The former Lyon striker has reportedly been taken into custody in relation to the previous police questioning of former Liverpool player Djibril Cisse

Real Madrid's Karim Benzema has been arrested by French police in relation to the alleged plot to blackmail Lyon playmaker Mathieu Valbuena, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Benzema is believed to have visited a judicial police office prior to his arrest in relation to the case that was opened by the French authorities in July.

The case is reported to centre around an alleged extortion attempt regarding a sex tape involving France international Valbuena.

Part of the investigations around the case also saw former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse taken into custody and later released in October.

A statement released by a prosecutor last month read: "Djibril Cisse was taken into custody (…) in connection with a judicial investigation opened in the district court of Versailles on July 31 2015.”