While he was to be heard by the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the failure of sports federations, Karim Benzema was finally exempted.
Identified as one of the personalities of the sporting world, and football in particular, potentially “ victim of racist acts “, according to the commission’s rapporteur, Sabrina Sebaihi (NUPES), Karim Benzema had received, like Didier Deschamps and Noël Le Graët, a summons to answer questions from the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the failures within French sports federations. Al-Ittihad’s lawyers then indicated that their client did not wish to respond, but they were reminded of the non-optional nature of this summons. But in mid-November, there was a twist, since Karim Benzema will ultimately not be auditioned.
It is The Team which confirmed this change of course by the commission composed of parliamentarians of the National Assembly. The media specified that “ the members of the commission did not insist on the former French international because the number of football players interviewed was already significant compared to other sports“. If his summons had been maintained, Karim Benzema would not have been obliged to travel to Paris, since a video hearing was possible. The question no longer arises. The 2022 Ballon d’Or will therefore not do like Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram or even Laurent Blanc, who previously came to answer the commission’s questions.
Schedule still busy
After several weeks of interviews with various players in the world of sport, the parliamentarians in charge will finish next week with a few more hearings, including that of the former boss of the French Rugby Federation, Bernard Laporte, or still his counterpart (still in office) at the French Swimming Federation, Gilles Sezionale. Also note that the president of the Professional Football League, Vincent Labrune, will also be interviewed.
