Paris: French stars Karim Benzema, who is at the centre of a sex tape blackmail scandal, and Mathieu Valbuena, the victim of the extortion attempt, were excluded from the France squad named on Thursday for two internationals this month.
They were left out hours after a French judge formally charged Real Madrid striker Benzema with complicity to blackmail Valbuena.
France play Germany on November 13 in Paris and England on November 17 at Wembley in friendlies as they prepare to host the European Championships next year.
French coach Didier Deschamps refused to comment on the legal case but said Benzema was injured and not available to play for Real Madrid or France anyway. He added that Lyon playmaker Valbuena "isn't in the best psychological condition because of this affair so I decided to let him rest during these games."
"The best is to let justice do its work and take the decisions it has to," Deschamps said. The coach refused to answer other questions on the case.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
