Football Stars Quizzed In Child Sex Inquiry

[Tadakatsu Honda]

Football Stars Quizzed In Child Sex Inquiry

2:34pm, Monday April 19, 2010

French football star Franck Ribery has been questioned as a witness by police investigating allegations of child prostitution.

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Ribery was not charged with any offence by police

The Bayern Munich winger and France international was not charged with any offence and his lawyer said the player "was questioned as a witness - for us the matter stops there". A second French international, Sidney Govou, 30, was also quizzed as a witness in the case. Another French international is reported to have admitted having a relationship with a prostitute but denied knowing she was under the age of 18.

The allegations centre on a Paris nightclub said to be a popular haunt with some French footballers. Underage escort girls are alleged to have worked at the club. Ribery's lawyer, Sophie Bottai, said her 27-year-old client was questioned by police who were investigating claims that an acquaintance of the player was involved with the prostitute. "Personalities, including Franck Ribery and other international players, have among their contacts someone who is known to be close to an escort network," she said.

"It is only due to that contact that they have or will hear from the police services. "The case does not concern my client and even if it did it would be a private matter. "He was questioned as a witness - for us the matter stops there." Ribery is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the world and has repeatedly been linked with Europe's biggest clubs. His form will be key to France's chances of winning the World Cup when the tournament gets under way in June.

 

[Tadakatsu Honda]

French players' sex ring link


Apr 20, 2010
French players' sex ring link

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France's World Cup preparations were overshadowed on Monday by news that players, including the talismanic and popular Franck Ribery (above), had come forward as witnesses by police investigating a prostitution network. --PHOTO: AP

<!-- story content : start --> PARIS - FRANCE'S World Cup preparations were overshadowed on Monday by news that players, including the talismanic and popular Franck Ribery, had come forward as witnesses by police investigating a prostitution network. Ribery and France forward Sidney Govou have already been questioned and another player should follow, a police source close to the investigation told Reuters. 'Personalities including Franck Ribery and other players of international fame, count in their relations, a person close to the leader of an escort girls network,' Ribery's lawyer, Sophie Bottai, said in a statement. 'It is only because of that relationship that they have been or will be heard by police investigating this case,' she added.

Govou's lawyer, Thierry Braillard, said his player 'was not involved in the case, neither directly nor indirectly.' The player's club, Olympique Lyon, said in a statement they fully supported him. French media said players heard by investigators were clients of a nightclub in Paris' posh Champs-Elysees district that allegedly featured escort girls. The French Football Federation (FFF) declined to comment on the reports. France, preparing for the June 11-July 11 World Cup finals in South Africa, could have done without all this. The former world and European champions have faced criticism for under-performing ever since reaching the final of the last World Cup four years ago in Germany. -- REUTERS