The president of the French Football Federation (FFF) spoke Wednesday regarding Karim Benzema and his alleged involvement in a plot to blackmail fellow national team player Mathieu Valbuena.
"Maybe I have protected Karim excessively in this matter, but I really like him and we all make mistakes," said Noel Le Graet in an interview with Paris Breizh Media (h/t Teamtalk via Fox Soccer). "He got carried away by stupidity in this case. He has been stupid like a donkey. But I don't believe in lecturing people."
Benzema remains suspended from the national team and could miss out on the 2016 European Championships, which are being held in France starting in June.