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Benzema is no victim of Islamophobia

Racism is not the reason the Real Madrid striker is out of Euro 2016 – but Les Bleus has a real problem with religion and race, he believes

Karim Benzema made his claim loud and clear: he believes that Islamophobes and racists have lobbied to stop him from playing for the national side during Euro 2016.

“[Didier] Deschamps has ceded to racial pressure in France,” the Real Madrid striker told Marca. “He must know that an extreme right party has reached the second round of the latest elections.”

Benzema is referring to the Front National, which has made huge gains in recent years, often capitalizing on anti-immigrant sentiment, particularly against Muslims.