The president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noel Le Graet has opened the door for striker Karim Benzema to return to the national team when legal proceedings against him for alleged blackmail have finished. "I am against lifetime punishments. Benzema needs to go through the courts, we won't take a risk, whatever it might be," the FFF president told French newspaper, L'Equipe on Sunday. "He already missed the Euros, that's something.

The striker was suspended indefinitely by the FFF in December 2015 after being put under formal investigation by a judge for an alleged plot to blackmail France team mate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex video. However Benzema continues to vehemently deny any accusations against him.

He subsequently missed the European Championship finals on home soil in June and July.

FFF president has said the striker will be available for selection as soon as justice has been served, but ultimately the final decision will rest with coach Didier Deschamps.

No court date has been set in Benzema's case. The 28-year-old currently sits eighth on France's top-scorer list, having found the net 27 times in 81 appearances for his country.

credit: Daraja Mutari

karim