Karim Benzema has spoken to the press for the first time since being accused of helping to blackmail France teammate Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape.
The Real Madrid star has proclaimed his innocence, insisting that his only intention during the scandal has been to help Valbuena end the nightmare.
"Sincerely, I am not guilty," Benzema told TF1. "I'm being dragged through the mud and treated like a criminal.
"I heard about the tape and I told him [Valbuena]. I told him I wanted to help him. I've experienced these things in the past and I have a friend in Lyon who can help manage issues of this nature.