Benzema files complaint against French minister for accusing him of ‘notorious links’ with Muslim Brotherhood

Former Real Madrid star Karim Benzema has filed a defamation complaint against French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin who accused him of having ‘notorious links’ with the Muslim Brotherhood. 

The 36-year-old offered support for the people of Gaza in October, saying they were victims of ‘unjust bombardments’ by Israel.  

Darmanin wasn’t happy with the forward’s comments and accused him of having links with the Muslim Brotherhood, a Sunni Muslim Islamist group originating in Egypt. 

Benzema quickly issued a strong denial of having any links with the organisation and threatened to sue the minister for slander. 

His complaint, lodged by his lawyer Hugues Vigier, says Darmanin’s comments have undermined his honour and reputation. 

Benzema said: “I am aware of the extent to which, because of my notoriety, I am being used in political games, which are all the more scandalous given that the dramatic events since October 7 deserve something quite different from this type of statement.”

The 36-year-old’s complaint has been lodged with the Cour de Justice, the only French court which has the power to prosecute members of the government for offences committed while in office. 

Benzema is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time, having won 24 trophies with Real Madrid between 2009 and 2023. 

He was named the winner of the 2022 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first Frenchman to win the prestigious award since Zinedine Zidane in 1998.