Karim Benzema drops his appeal against the sex scandal saga

Real Madrid Karim Benzema has decided to drop his appeal against his one-year suspended sentence for complicity in the attempts to blackmail former France teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

The trial was due to take place on June 30 and July 1, but Benzema has grown tired of the process and decided to drop the case.

As reported by L'Equipe, lawyer Hugues Vigier said that Benzema is "exhausted" by the six-year process.

"This withdrawal endorses a ruling of condemnation and apparently of guilt," Vigier said. "It is a judicial truth. But it is not reality."

According to L'Equipe, Benzema has been sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence.

The forward was also hit with a fine of 75,000 euros, with 80,000 euros more to be paid to Valbuena for damages.

In its November judgment, the Versailles criminal court ruled that Benzema had "implicated himself personally, through subterfuge and lies, to convince his teammate to submit to the blackmail".

It added he had shown "no kindness towards Valbuena", as he had claimed, but "just the opposite" and had even appeared to take pleasure in his fellow player's plight.

The affair rocked the French national team and led to the Madrid star being cast out of the side for five-and-a-half years before making a surprise return to "Les Bleus" in 2021 in time for the European championship.

Benzema, who has always maintained his innocence, has on several occasions expressed his desire to turn the page on the affair as soon as possible.

News of the star striker's announcement that he was dropping his appeal came just hours after he scored a brilliant opening goal in France's UEFA Nations League clash against Denmark in Paris.

The Danes, however, recovered to win 2-1 after substitute Andreas Cornelius scored twice.

Benzema is a favourite for the Ballon d'Or after helping Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Champions League final in Paris last weekend.