Euro 2016: French politicians dismiss Karim Benzema's allegations of exclusion on racial grounds

French politicians of both left and right today furiously dismissed allegations by the Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema that he had been excluded from the France squad for Euro 2016 for racial reasons.

Echoing remarks made by the former footballer Eric Cantona and by the actor Jamel Debbouze, Benzema said that the French manager had “given in to pressure from the racist part of France” by leaving him out of the 23 man squad.

Benzema’s remarks today in an interview with a Spanish newspaper threw a match into what was already a highly combustible situation.

The Real Madrid striker, regarded as one of the best players in the world, was omitted from the squad after he was formally accused of helping childhood friends to blackmail an international team mate.

The French sports minister, Thierry Braillard, today dismissed Benzema’s remarks as “unjustified and unacceptable”. There was “absolutely no racism” in the French football federation, he said.

Other politicians pointed out that the France squad of 23 included 13 players of African, North African, Caribbean or Indian Ocean origin. The centre right former environment minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet said: “This is all the more terrible because it damages the image of France and of the France team. You only have to look at the team to know that the manager and the federation cannot be suspected of racism.”

In his interview with the newspaper Marca, Benzema said that he “got on very well” with the France manager, Didier Deschamps. He said, however, that Deschamps had “given way to pressure from the racist part of France” by declaring him “ineligible” for the Euros 2016 tournament in France which starts on Friday week.

Benzema has been placed under formal investigation – a step short of a charge – for allegedly aiding childhood friends who tried to blackmail a France team-mate, Matthieu Valbuena. Valbuena has also been left out of the France squad.

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He was asked by Benzema’s boyhood friends to hand over money for a sex tape that he had allegedly made with his wife.

Benzema has denied any intention to blackmail his team-mate. “I have not been tried and I am presumed to be innocent,” he said in his Marca interview.

Last week, Eric Cantona, 50, the former Manchester United and France striker turned actor, caused consternation when he accused Deschamps of excluding Benzema and another player Hatem Ben Arfa because of their North African “origins”. Mr Deschamps has since announced that he plans to sue Mr Cantona for defamation.

On Monday, Jamel Debbouze, a stand-up comedian turned film actor and director, who is of Franco-Moroccan origin, said that he regretted the fact that none of “our representatives” were selected to play for France in Euro 2016. The absence of star players of North African origin would, he said, deepen tensions in the poor multi-racial suburbs surrounding French cities.

Since he spoke, Adil Rami, a central defender born in Corsica who is of Moroccan origin, has been added to the squad because of injuries to other players.

Debbouze said that Benzema and Ben Arfa were “paying the price” of the country’s suspicious attitude toward young people of North African origin.

His remarks were angrily dismissed as “poison” today by a Socialist MP who is of North African origin. Speaking before Benzema’s interview was published, Melek Boutih, former president of SOS Racisme, said that Debbouze’s comments were “dangerous” because the actor was so popular in the multi-racial suburbs of French cities.

“Paranoia and conspiracy theories already proliferate there,” he said. “Adding to the tension by these kind of insinuations is poison. He is not doing the kids in these areas any favours.”