October 14 – Former Liverpool forward Djibril Cisse is at the centre of a blackmail investigation in France having been taken into custody and then released.
According to agency reports, the case concerns a suspected attempt to blackmail fellow France international Mathieu Valbuena over an alleged sex tape.
According to a police statement quoted in Le Parisien, Cisse was detained in Versailles outside Paris. He was later released without appearing before a judge.
The statement read: “Djibril Cisse was taken into custody by members of the regional directorate of the judiciary police of Versailles as part of a criminal investigation opened at Versailles regional court on July 31, 2015.”
The statement also said the investigation targeted blackmailers suspected of being involved in a criminal conspiracy “with a view to preparing a crime punishable by at least five years’ imprisonment.”
Sources close to the case told AFP that altogether four people were taken into custody following “an attempt to extort money” from Valbuena.
Cisse and Valbuena not only played together at international level for France but also for Marseilles between 2007 and 2009. Currently Cisse, 34, is a free agent having been released by SC Bastia at the end of last season. He recently announced he was taking a break from football but not retiring.
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