French soccer stars charged in prostitution case

Reporting from Paris — Two French soccer stars, one of whom played in the recent World Cup tournament, were detained by police Tuesday in an investigation involving an underage prostitution ring. Preliminary charges were issued against the pair before they were released.

The players, Franck Ribery, 27, and Karim Benzema, 22, had been questioned by a magistrate in the case in May, but the investigation was suspended for two months to allow them the opportunity to perform in the international tournament in South Africa.

Ribery, who played for the French national team in the World Cup, and Benzema, who was left off the squad, are alleged to have had sex with prostitutes younger than 18, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine. Prostitution itself is legal in France, providing the age limit is met.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/…