French international footballers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema are to face trial for allegedly soliciting an underage prostitute.
French international footballers Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema are to face trial for allegedly soliciting an underage prostitute, judicial sources said on Tuesday.
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The footballers are among eight people that investigating magistrate Andre Dando has sent for trial as well as the Zaman Cafe on Paris' Champs Elysees where the meetings with Zahia Dehar took place.
Zahia Dehar is an escort-turned-fashion designer. Pics/AFP
Some of the defendants will be prosecuted for "aggravated pimping", according to judicial papers.
Paris prosecutors had in 2011 requested that the case against the two French football stars be dropped on the grounds that they did not know that Dehar was aged under 18.
Dehar, now 20, told police she was paid for sex with Ribery in 2009 and Benzema in 2008 when she was aged 16. She claimed that both players were not aware that she was under age.
Karim Benzema (left) and Frank Ribery. Pic/AFP
The affair broke during 2010 and tarnished the image of the France football team just weeks ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
Ribery, 29, plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and 24-year-old Benzema with Primera Liga giants Real Madrid.
Both face a possible three years in prison or a 45,000-euro fine.
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