Real Madrid Striker Karim Benzema Suing Far Right Activist Over Comments

Karim Benzema is reportedly taking legal action against right wing activist Damien Rieu after apparently being linked with terrorist activity.

Benzema is having arguably the season of his life and could be on the way to winning the Ballon d'Or in October, after helping Real Madrid to the Champions League final.

He scored back-to-back hat-tricks against PSG and Chelsea, and then a winning goal against the Blues, before his Panenka, assist and winning penalty against Manchester City secured their place in Paris later this month.

However, off the pitch, Benzema still has an issue to deal with, based on some social media posts about him, back in October 2020, by Rieu.

Le Parisien report that Benzema has sued the activist over defamation, after the figure for the Reconquette party posted a picture of the striker with imam Nourdine Mamoune.

"It’s interesting to discover that Benzema visits the imam Nourdine Mamoune, who has just been investigated [in relation to the killing of secondary-school teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist terrorist]," the caption said.

"I can’t wait for the courts to take an interest in the financing of the mosques in Bron [the region Benzema is from]," the controversial right winger added.

Mamoune was never charged with any involvement in the murder that Rieu was also linking Benzema too, and it didn't end there either.

A second picture of Benzema with his finger pointing up was posted, alongside photos of several terrorists also raising their index fingers upwards.

Rieu commented, "I think Benzema wants to send us a message."

Rieu is set to face a court hearing Lyon later this month and he was in bullish mood, telling La Parisien, "Karim wants to shut me up… Tell him I’ve won all my cases."

The French striker has been involved in a court case in the past, when he accused of blackmailing former national team teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

He was found guilty last year, and given a one year suspended jail sentence, but was allowed to return to the France team for last summer's Euros, after six years out of the squad due to the case.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Real Madrid, Karim Benzema, La Liga

Ryan Sidle

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