Mathieu Valbuena and Karim Benzema, embroiled in a sextape scandal, were omitted from France’s squad yesterday for the games with Germany and England later this month while Hatem Ben Arfa was recalled.

Real Madrid striker Benzema was put under formal judicial investigation earlier yesterday in connection with an alleged attempt to blackmail Olympique Lyon forward Valbuena with the use of a sex video.

France coach Didier Deschamps told a news conference he would not answer “questions not related to football”.

He simply said Valbuena, who took part in Lyon’s 2-0 home defeat by Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League on Wednesday, was not in an emotional state to play.

Benzema, on the injured list at Real recently, has been forbidden by a prosecutor to be in contact with the people linked to the investigation.

With two of his key players missing, Deschamps recalled Ben Arfa, who has been shining at Nice, scoring seven goals in 12 matches in Ligue 1.

Midfielder Ben Arfa won the last of his 13 caps at Euro 2012.

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