Ribery and Benzema linked to prostitution scandal that hits French soccer ahead of World Cup

Prostitution scandal hits French soccer players

PARIS — The police probe into a suspected prostitution ring at a Paris nightspot has cast serious doubt as to whether France soccer players Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema will be named to the team’s World Cup squad.

Ribery has already testified, and Benzema is set to be questioned over alleged sexual relations with an underage prostitute operating out of a trendy Paris club.

With France coach Raymond Domenech set to name his squad in about three weeks, the sex scandal could not have come at a worse time for the beleaguered team. It follows a difficult qualifying campaign, during which Ribery was one of the rare players to shine.