French football star Franck Ribery admits sleeping with underage girl as child prostitute scandal grows
By Ian Sparks
Last updated at 11:57 AM on 20th April 2010
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Ribery
Questioned: Franck Ribery, 27, is facing allegations in connection with underage prostitutes
The sex scandal engulfing France's international football team took a disturbing twist today as Franck Ribery admitted sleeping with an under-age prostitute.
It came as 22-year-old Karim Benzema was named as another suspect, along with Hatem Ben Arfa, the 23-year-old Marseilles striker.
They all join Sidney Govou, the 30-year-old Lyon winger, who is the fourth player allegedly involved in the crimes.
Although Ribery, a married 27-year-old star, denied knowing that the girl was under 18 when he began seeing her, he could still face charges along with his teammates.
All are suspected of having 'regular sex' with the unnamed French Moroccan after being introduced to her at the Zaman Café, a notorious nightclub on the Champs Elysee in Paris.
Ribery - widely considered to be France's best player - told examining magistrates that he 'saw the girl over a number of months in 2009'.
This contradicts earlier claims that he and his team mates were solely being interviewed as witnesses in the child sex probe.
Prostitution is legal in France, but those providing sex for money have to be at least 18.
If found guilty Ribery, a 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 Ribery is to be prosecuted but it remains a possibility,' said a judicial source in Paris.
'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.'
Enlarge Zaman Café
Zaman Café on the Champs Élysées is a legal brothel but is now under investigation over a suspected underage prostitution ring
The unnamed woman is now 18, with the offences said to have taken place last year, said the judicial source.
Ribery is hoping to star in this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, and is also contemplating a lucrative move from his current club side, Germany's Bayern Munich, to England, Spain or Italy.
He and the other three players were summoned to appear before Judge Dando after 20 girls were arrested in a dawn swoop on the Zaman a week ago on Monday.
It has now been shut down.
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.
Ribery converted to Islam to marry his French Algerian wife Wahiba. The couple have two daughters.
Govou, a winger with Lyon, is single but has a five-year-old daughter with his ex-girlfriend, Pascale.
Olympique Lyon's Sidney Govou
Karim Benzema
Questioned: Les Blues' stars Sidney Govou and Karim Benzema
The two men will meet in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday in Munich.
Benzema and Ben Arfa are both believed to be single.
Despite the new revelations, Sophie Bottai, 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 Govou, Benzema and Arfa also deny any wrongdoing.
Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French Football Federation, said: 'An investigation is under way. There is nothing else to say at the moment.'
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.
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry admitted handling the ball which set up a goal against Ireland which secured the draw France needed to go to South Africa.
