According to information from RMC on Monday, several prominent figures in French sports, including Karim Benzema, have been summoned before the French National Assembly.
The investigative commission on issues within the French sports federations, initiated in July of the previous year by the Green Party deputy Sabriha Sebaihi, could hold hearings with several athletes from the country at the National Assembly, as reported by RMC. This commission aims to unravel the offenses related to cases of sexual violence, discrimination, and corruption that have shaken various French sports federations in recent years.
As part of this effort, several notable figures from the football world have been summoned. Among them is Karim Benzema, former star of Real Madrid. In 2016, Benzema accused Didier Deschamps of succumbing to pressure from a racist faction of France after not selecting him for the European Championship. Although summoned, Benzema, residing abroad, is not legally obligated to comply with this summons. However, Laurent Blanc, current coach of OL (Olympique Lyonnais), is obliged to testify according to RMC.
Laurent Blanc was involved in the 2011 quotas affair with the national football team. Other personalities have also been summoned for hearings in the coming weeks, including Patrick Vieira, Yannick Noah, David Lappartient, and Amélie Oudéa-Castera. Sarah Abitbol, who accused her coach of rape and her federation of covering up the incidents, will also be among the individuals testifying.
This series of hearings aims to shed light on the systemic issues that have emerged within the French sports federations and to find solutions to cleanse and protect the integrity of sports in the country. As France prepares to host the Olympic Games in a year, these testimonies and investigations will hold crucial significance for the future of sports in France.
