France football scandal :

[Al-khiyal]

French footballers, Ribery and Govou, in prostitute sex scandal

April 19, 2010 -- A sex scandal has threatened to engulf France’s football team after two of its leading players were questioned about under-age prostitutes. Franck Ribéry, 27, and Sidney Govou, 30, we resummoned before an examining judge following allegations that a nightclub on Paris’s Champs-Élysées employed prostitutes, some under the age of 18. Two star players of “Les Bleus” were questioned as “witnesses” and are not suspected of any illegal acts. However, a judicial official said one regular at the club had admitted having sexual relations with a Moroccan-born prostitute, but denied knowing she was under 18.

The prosecution service official, who declined to be named according to regular French practice, said: “It is up to the judge, Andre Dando, to decide whether or not to bring charges against him.” Soliciting sex with an under-age minor in France carries a three-year jail term and a fine of €45,000 (£39,500). Two other French internationals — one playing for a Spanish side, the other for a southern French team — are also due to be interviewed by police in Paris. A man accused of pimping activities and referred to as “Abou” was arrested last week. The head of the Café Zaman nightclub in France —where privacy laws shield footballers from kiss-and-tell press coverage — and two other “intermediaries” were also arrested. A judicial source said a football agent was also implicated.

Mr Ribéry, a midfielder, is considered France’s top player. He joined the German club Bayern Munich for more than £25 million in 2007, and has frequently been linked with a move to Chelsea. Mr Ribéry converted to Islam to marry his French-Algerian wife, Wahiba. The couple have two daughters. Mr Govou, a winger for Lyons football club, is single but has a five-year-old daughter. Their connection with the sex scandal could not have come at a worse time, two months before the World Cup finals in South Africa. France’s qualification was controversial as Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal player, was alleged to have handled the ball to set up a goal against Ireland which secured their place in the finals.

Sophie Bottai, Mr Ribéry’s lawyer, said her client was called as a witness “to explain his relations with an acquaintance close to the escort girl organiser” but had no other part in this “private” affair. Thierry Braillard, counsel for Mr Govou, who also denies any wrongdoing, said: “My client would like to affirm he has no link whatsoever with any pimp network. Sidney Govou has notably never set foot in the notorious Café Zaman in Paris.”

[Al-khiyal]

French football scandal: two more players named

April 20, 2010 -- The sex scandal involving Franck Ribéry that has tainted France's international football team has deepened after two more player's names were dragged into an underage prostitution investigation. Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema, linked to a £40 million transfer to Manchester United, and Hatem Ben Arfa, the 23-year old Marseille striker, are both expected to be questioned as "witnesses" in the probe, according to an unnamed judicial source. Mr Ribery, 27, and Sidney Govou, 30, have already been summoned before an examining judge following allegations that the Café Zaman, a nightclub on the Champs-Elysées, employed underage prostitutes. Some 20 girls were arrested in a swoop on the Zaman just over a week ago. It has now been shut by the authorities and four people have been arrested and charged.

Mr Ribéry, a Bayern Munich midfielder and top French star, could face charges for having sexual relations with a 17-year-old Moroccan woman. "Judge Andre Dando has yet to decide if Ribéry is to be prosecuted but it remains a possibility," said a judicial source in Paris. He added that Mr Ribéry had admitted sleeping with the prostitute "on several occasions" last year but that he was unaware she was underage when they first met. Prostitution is legal in France, but those offering sex for money must be at least 18 years old. Having sexual relations with an underage prostitute is an offence that carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a 45,000-euro (£40,000) fine.

The scandal has already reportedly affected Mr Ribéry's career and his marriage. Mr Ribery's French Algerian wife, Wahiba, for whom he converted to Islam, is understood to be upset. The couple have two daughters. Mr Ribéry, who joined Bayern Munich for more than £25 million in 2007, had been tipped for a summer transfer to Spanish side Real Madrid. Commentators suggested he may now reconsider a move to Chelsea this summer, which he recently rejected because he said his wife could not cope with the British weather. "My wife is from the south, she needs sun," he recently said.

Mr Ribéry did not appear for a press conference yesterday ahead of today's (Wednesday's) Bayern Munich's Champions' League first leg semi-final clash against French side Lyon, in which he will play against Mr Govou. His side closed ranks around their star player yesterday. "This is, of course, an issue for us," said Bayern's director of sport Christian Nerlinger. "But for the time being, we have to concentrate on the football, including Franck."

Mr Ribéry's lawyer Sophie Bottai has denied any wrongdoing. She said: "This affair does not concern my client and could only, in the worst case, involve his private life alone." Mr Arfa also yesterday strenuously denied any link with the investigation. "It's not me 100 per cent," he told l'Equipe TV, the sports TV channel. His lawyer said he had received no summons by any magistrate. Lawyers for Mr Benzema and Mr Govou denied any wrongdoing.

The scandal could not have come at a worse time for the French national side, which was widely criticised last year for the way it qualified for the World Cup. Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal star, was alleged to have handled the ball which set up a goal against Ireland, helping to secure France's place in the finals in South Africa in June. "This is yet another tough blow for the French side," said one French football federation official.

French football pundits said it marked the end of a taboo over revelations about French footballer's private lives, which are commonplace in Britain. "The football world is discovering the joys of total transparency "à l'Anglo-Saxonne", said Bruno Roger-Petit in a blog on the Sport 24 website. "France was until now spared these types of 'revelations', from now on that era is over. 'We know everything, we'll say everything!" he wrote.

[Al-khiyal]

Abou, l'homme qui fait trembler le football français

Mardi 20 Avril 2010 -- Il voulait être une star, qu'on le reconnaisse dans la rue... Mais Abou, de son vrai nom Abou Sofiane, fait aujourd'hui la une au rayon des faits divers. Ancien candidat à la Nouvelle Star, ce trentenaire d'origine marocaine se retrouve au coeur de l'affaire de prostitution qui fait trembler aujourd'hui le football français. Quatre joueurs de l'équipe de France, mais aussi un agent, sont actuellement dans le collimateur de la justice. Comme l'a révélé dimanche soir lepoint.fr, les Bleus Franck Ribéry et Sidney Govou ont été entendus comme témoins - ou plutôt comme clients - dans le cadre d'une commission rogatoire du juge parisien André Dando. Deux autres joueurs de l'équipe de France, Hatem Ben Arfa et Karim Benzema, seront aussi auditionnés prochainement.

Son Q.G. : un club des Champs

Présenté par les policiers comme un intermédiaire du monde de la nuit au carnet d'adresses bien fourni, Abou a connu Govou, Ben Arfa et Benzema, lorsqu'il était à Lyon. Supporter du club de l'OL - on le voit poser avec le maillot de l'équipe dans son album photo sur Internet -, Abou a grandi comme eux en banlieue. Après avoir été quatre fois candidat à la Nouvelle Star, sur M6, il finit par enregistrer un single J'aime regarder les filles, une reprise d'un vieux tube des années 80 du chanteur Patrick Coutin. Devenu "homme de télé", l'ambitieux Abou monte à Paris pour animer sur La Locale, une chaîne de la TNT, une émission baptisée "Abou Show" dans laquelle il reçoit surtout des people de seconde zone. Mais c'est surtout dans la nuit parisienne, avec, semble-t-il, un autre job, qu'Abou s'est fait un nom. Son Q.G. ? Le Zaman café, un club de l'avenue des Champs-Élysées, spécialisé dans les "after". En l'occurrence des fins de nuit chaudes où beaucoup de filles qui fréquentent les lieux en profitent pour racoler. Abou les connaît toutes, celles du Zaman et bien d'autres encore.

Blonde décolorée au visage d'ange

Placé sur écoutes par la brigade de répression du proxénétisme (BRP) depuis plusieurs mois, Abou est aujourd'hui accusé d'avoir alimenté de riches clients avec ces filles. De jolies jeunes filles, le plus souvent d'origine marocaine et dont au moins l'une d'entre elles était mineure. C'est cette blonde élancée aux cheveux décolorés et au visage d'ange, devenue entre-temps majeure, qui aurait vendu ses charmes à Franck Ribéry, et à trois autres joueurs. "Ils se faisaient des passes entre eux", ironise un policier. Dans les médias, Abou se décrivait comme joyeux, sociable et ambitieux. Mais aussi fêtard. Une conception bien particulière de la fête.

[Al-khiyal]

فضيحة "جنس مع قاصرات" تهز المنتخب الفرنسي

باريس، فرنسا(CNN) -- قبل أقل من شهرين على انطلاق بطولة كأس العالم في جنوب إفريقيا في الحادي عشر من يونيو/حزيران المقبل، اندلعت فضيحة جنسية قد تقضي على آمال المنتخب الفرنسي لكرة القدم، ذلك أن أربعة من أبطالها يلعبون في منتخب الديوك، وتم الكشف عن اثنين منهم بعد استجوابهما والتحقيق معهما.

التهمة قد تصل حد إقامة علاقة جنسية مع قاصرات، والأبطال المعروفون حتى الآن هما فرانك ريبيري (27 عاماً)، لاعب فريق بايرن ميونيخ الألماني، الذي تحول للإسلام إثر زواجه من فرنسية جزائرية الأصل تدعى "وهيبة" ولديهما طفلتان، والثاني هو سيدني غوفو (30 عاماً)، وهو أعزب ولكن لديه طفلة في الخامسة من عمرها من عشيقته السابقة باسكال.

أما مسرح الفضيحة، فهو أحد الأندية الليلية في باريس والذي يشتبه باستخدامه لعاهرات قاصرات يدعى "زمان" بحسب ما ذكرت قناة "فرانس 24"، وهو ناد يقع بالقرب من جادة "الشانزيليزيه" ويرتاده لاعبو المنتخب في شتى المناسبات ويتوددون لفتيات قاصرات لا تزيد أعمارهن عن 18 عاماً، بحسب صحيفة التيلغراف البريطانية.

وبحسب القوانين الفرنسية، فإن إقامة علاقة مع قاصر يعد اعتداء ويستحق عقوبة السجن مدة 3 سنوات.

وبعد ظهور الفضيحة، التي كشفتها قناة "إم 6" الفرنسية في السابع عشر من إبريل/نيسان، استدعى قاض فرنسي اللاعبان ريبيري وغوفو للاستماع لشهادتهما.

"أم 6" قالت إن الشرطة القضائية أخضعت اثنين من اللاعبين الأربعة لاستجواب، أحدهما ريبيري، الذي أقر بالعلاقة الجنسية، التي كانت تربطه بعاهرة ذات أصول مغربية كان نادي "زمان" يستغل خدماتها بالرغم من كونها قاصر.

وقالت التليغراف إن أحد اللاعبين اعترف بإقامة علاقة جنسية لكنه أشار إلى أنه كان يعتقد أنها الفتاة "امرأة بالغة."

وأكدت محامية ريبيري، صوفي بوتاي، أن الأخير من بين المتهمين الذين خضعوا للاستجواب، لكنها أوضحت أن ريبيري استجوب بصفته "شاهداً" في القضية، وقالت المحامية، بحسب ما جاء في برقية لوكالة الأنباء الفرنسية: "بالنسبة لنا، الأمر يتوقف عند هذا الحد"، بحسب "فرانس 24."

القاضي إيف داندو أكد استدعاء ريبيري وغوفو، ولكنه أكد ما أشارت إليه المحامية صوفي، من أن استدعاء اللاعبين كان بدافع الشهادة.

وكان المنتخب الفرنسي قد تعرض العام الماضي لانتقادات واسعة للطريقة التي تأهلوا بها إلى نهائيات كأس العالم، بعد أن استخدم لاعب المنتخب والآرسنال، تيري هنري، يده في استقبال إحدى الكرات التي تم بها تسجيل الهدف.

وقال مصدر قضائي فرنسي إنه من المستبعد توجيه الاتهام إلى أي من اللاعبين، غير أن الأمر قد يكلف اللاعبين المتورطين حياتهم الزوجية والأموال الطائلة.

[Al-khiyal]

Ribéry et Benzéma étaient des clients de Zahia, une prostituée mineure

Mercredi 21 Avril 2010 -- L'affaire Ribéry fait tâche d'huile. La jeune prostituée au cœur de l'affaire, Zahia D., s'est lâchée devant la Brigade de répression du proxénétisme (BRP), explique Le Monde sur son site. Selon le très sérieux quotidien français, Zahia a indiqué avoir eu des relations sexuelles tarifées avec Sidney Govou, Franck Ribéry et Karim Benzema, soit trois attaquants de l'équipe de France de football !

Si elle a 18 ans aujourd'hui, Zahia était, à l'époque des faits, mineure. Avec Ribéry, qui joue mercredi soir en Ligue des champions avec le Bayern, la passe a eu lieu à Munich au printemps 2009. Elle avait alors 17 ans mais lui aurait fait croire qu'elle était majeure, selon lemonde.fr. La star du Bayern a avoué à la police avoir eu des relations sexuelles avec la prostituée, et lui avoir payé l'avion et le séjour à Munich. Il a contesté lui avoir donné 2.000 euros.

Avec Benzema à 16 ans

L'année d'avant, en 2008, Zahia D. aurait couché avec Karim Benzéma. Tandis que pour Sidney Govou, elle avait déjà atteint la majorité (mars 2010). En France, solliciter des relations sexuelles à une mineure est passible de 3 ans de prison et de 45.000 euros d'amende. Il faut cependant prouver que les suspects étaient au courant de l'âge réel de la prostituée. L'affaire a éclaté au grand jour lors que le BRP a fait une descente au Zaman Café, à Paris. En interrogeant les 18 prostituées, la brigade est tombée sur une certaine Zahia D…

[Al-khiyal]

Franck Ribery football scandal prostitute breaks her silence

April 21, 2010 -- The teenage call girl accused of sleeping with at least three French football stars when she was underage broke her silence over the scandal announcing: "I loved them all". Zahia Dehar, now 18, said she was "shocked" that the players were facing up to three years in prison for the crime. She said that Franck Ribery, 27, Karim Benzema, 22, and Sidney Govou, 30, had all treated her "with utter respect" and should be left alone. It came as provocative pictures of the would-be model were released in Paris.

Mr Ribery, a £40 million target for Chelsea, flew the young French Moroccan to a hotel in Germany, where he is currently a winger for Bayern Munich, last Spring. He is then alleged to have paid her up to £2,000 for sex, something he continued to do back in France. Miss Dehar was one of 18 girls quizzed during a police raid on the Café Zaman, a nightclub on the Champs Elysee, last week. She has told vice squad officers that she had £2,000-a-night sex with all three players. Prostitution is legal in France, but those selling sex must be over 18.

Mr Ribery, widely considered to be France's best player, told examining magistrates that he saw the girl over a number of months in 2009. If charged and found guilty the Muslim convert faces a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to £40,000. Judge Andre Dando has yet to decide if Mr Ribery is to be prosecuted but it remains a possibility,' said a judicial source in Paris. It has been reported that Mr Ribery has admitted having sexual relationship with the girl over several months, but denies knowing she was underage. He could be in very serious trouble at the worst possible time in his career.

The same goes for the other players if they are found to have been knowingly sleeping with an underage prostitute. Mr Ribery is hoping to star in this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, and is also contemplating a lucrative move from Bayern Munich, to England, Spain or Italy. He and the other three players were summoned to appear before Judge Dando after the swoop on the Zaman. It has now been shut by the authorities. A man known as "Abou" from a hit French reality TV show was questioned about his alleged role in acting as a "pimp" to introduce players to the girls.

Mr Ribery, bought by Bayern for £25 million in 2007, converted to Islam to marry his French Algerian wife Wahiba. The couple have two daughters. Mr Govou, a winger with Lyon, is single but has a five-year-old daughter with his ex-girlfriend, Pascale. The two men will meet in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday in Munich. Mr Benzema, who plays for Real Madrid and is a target for Manchester United, is believed to be single.

Despite the new revelations, Sophie Bottai, Mr Ribery's lawyer, continued to deny that her client had slept with the girl. This affair does not concern my client and could only, in the worst case, involve his private life alone,' she said. Lawyers for Mr Govou, and Mr Benzema also deny any wrongdoing. While international players for teams like England have frequently been involved in scandals involving sex and alcohol, this is the first time that the French have been connected with widespread sleaze allegations. France was widely criticised last year for the way they qualified for the World Cup. Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal star, was alleged to have handled the ball which set up a goal against Ireland which secured the draw France needed to go to South Africa, where the competition starts in June.

Miss Dehar celebrated her 18th birthday on February 28 this year. A picture taken on the day shows her with Mr Ribery. According to police files, Miss Dehar started working as a prostitute in March 2008. She was making up to £20,000 a month sleeping with wide range of rich clients, especially multi-millionaire footballers. They would fly her to destinations like Dubai, putting her up in five star hotels. She is also known to have attended European Cup football ties involving English clubs. Detectives said Miss Dehar has co-operated fully with their enquiries, and did not face criminal charges herself. She is currently staying with friends in Paris. Despite the scandal, indications are that Mr Ribery's wife will stand by him. She has told his club that she will attend tonight's European Cup tie against Lyon.

[Al-khiyal]