Big-name duo deny all charges against them.
The trial of France internationals Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema has started in Paris, with both players charged with having sex with an under-age prostitute, according to reports on the Mail Online.
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Ribery, who plays for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, and Benzema, who represents La Liga giants Real Madrid, both deny that they knowingly had sex with Zahia Dehar when she was under the age of 18.
Both players face up to three years in prison, and a fine of 45,000 euros if found guilty of the charge, although neither star was actually in attendance in the French capital on the first day of the trial on Monday, while neither was Dehar present.
Before the trial got under way though, Ribery’s lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, sounded a positive note when he said: “We are going in confident and we are going to fight.”
Meanwhile, Ms Dehar, who is now 21 years old, has also now decided to withdrawn as a civil plaintiff in the case.
“She is not asking for anything,” said her lawyer, Daniel Vaconsin.
Benzema, 26 is alleged to have sex with Ms Dehar when she was just 16 years old, while Ribery, 30, is accused of having sex with the prostitute when she was 17.
The age of consent in France is 15, however, knowingly paying for sex with someone under 18 is a crime though.