Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena have been dropped from the France squad by manager Didier Deschamps amid an ongoing police investigation into an alleged blackmail plot involving a sex tape.
Real Madrid's Benzema was charged by a judge in Versailles today with complicity in an attempt to blackmail and participating in a criminal group, which is punishable by five years' imprisonment.
It is alleged that a group of people tried to extort money from Valbuena by threatening to leak footage of the Lyon footballer having sex with his partner.
Benzema is not permitted to contact his international teammate while the investigation is ongoing.
Deschamps has also omitted Chelsea's Kurt Zouma and Alexandre Lacazette, while former Newcastle United outcast Hatem Ben Arfa and Andre-Pierre Gignac have returned to the squad.
Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has earned his first senior call-up for friendlies against Germany and England.
Messieurs, rendez-vous lundi! Au programme @DFB_Team et @england #FRAALL #ANGFRA #AllezLesBleus pic.twitter.com/R1woPBi6az
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) November 5, 2015
Danielle Joynson
