The French football federation (FFF) brought the hammer down on Karim Benzema on Thursday.
In a press conference, FFF president Noël Le Graët said Karim Benzema was indefinitely suspended from the national team, but he also left the door open for his return to the team.
“I have decided, it is a decision from the president of the French federation and not from the executive committee or the ethics committee,” Le Graët told the press. “As long as the judicial system has not decided that everything that has been published is excessive, the federation will not change its mind.”
Benzema is currently under investigation after allegedly assisting a criminal group, which devised a blackmail scheme against French teammate Mathieu Valbuena using an alleged sex tape.
Hoping to resolve the issue, the Real Madrid striker reportedly requested a meeting with Valbuena on Tuesday.
Here are some more of Thursday’s news and notes:
SCHWEINSTEIGER BANNED THREE GAMES
Bastian Schweinsteiger elbowed Winston Reid on Saturday and accepted the consequences of his actions on Thursday.
The Manchester United midfielder lifted his elbow and hit West Ham United’s Reid during the pair’s scoreless tie on Saturday, and now Schweinsteiger must sit out the team’s next three games after accepting the English Football Association’s ban. The German international will miss the AFC Bournemouth, Norwich City and Stoke City games, but return in time to play Chelsea on Dec. 28.
“Bastian Schweinsteiger will serve a three-match suspension with immediate effect after he accepted an FA charge for violent conduct which was not seen by the match officials but caught on video,” a statement from the FA said.
He was not reprimanded during the game for the elbow, but here is the incident:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlT1bKyfqgk
AGUERO SET TO MISS SWANSEA CITY CLASH
Sergio Aguero is set to miss another match for Manchester City.
According to Goal.com, the Argentine forward is likely to sit out of Man City’s next English Premier League contest against Swansea City on Saturday with a nagging foot injury.
Aguero, who has scored seven goals this season, hasn’t appeared in the three games since his exit from Man City’s Nov. 28 match against Southampton. He picked up a heel problem in that win.
After this weekend’s bout, Man City will not play again until Dec. 21.
LEICESTER CITY WINGER SAYS TEAM WON’T WIN LEAGUE
In spite of being two points above second-place Arsenal on the English Premier League table in December, one Leicester City player doesn’t think the Foxes will win the league.
According to winger Riyad Mahrez, Leicester City needs to first reach 40 points in order to evaluate the real chance of winning the EPL title, but he admits even then that it is a small chance.
“I don’t think we can win the league,” he told BBC World Football. “We just need to get the 40 points and then after that we will see.”
Leicester City is unbeaten in its previous eight EPL game, including wins against a 1-1 tie with Manchester United.
QUICK KICKS:
Alvaro Morata extended his contract with Italian side Juventus until 2020. (REPORT)
Brendan Galloway, 19, inked a new deal with Everton that extends to 2020. (REPORT)
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