PARIS -- Karim Benzema's lawyers have issued a request for a confrontation hearing between the Real Madrid striker and Mathieu Valbuena in the sex-tape case involving the France international teammates.
Real Madrid striker Benzema, who has been charged with conspiracy to blackmail in relation to an extortion scam over a sex tape featuring Valbuena, has no right to meet him during the investigation after he was placed under judicial supervision.
The investigating judge has one month to consider the lawyers' request.
French federation president Noel Le Graet is expected to address the case at a news conference on Thursday.
Benzema, who is alleged to have pressured Valbuena to deal with the blackmailers, denies any wrongdoing.
Benzema's lawyers said on Tuesday they filed the request for the meeting but declined to comment further.
In an interview with newspaper Le Monde this month, Valbuena spoke directly about Benzema's attempts to pressure him and said he felt betrayed by his France teammate.
Valbuena said he was particularly shocked by the way Benzema spoke about him over the phone with one of the suspected blackmailers, with Benzema joking that Valbuena would get "eaten by the piranhas."
Benzema, who denies wrongdoing, acknowledged that the tone of his conversation was uncalled for and apologized to Valbuena and his family.