Ribery Focuses On Football Despite Under-Age Prostitution Charges
Frank Ribery is amongst several players from the French national team accused of soliciting s*x with an underage prostitute.
According to French laws, the age of consent is 15 years, but when money is involved, the age goes up to 18 years. The offence is punishable by a penalty of three years imprisonment and/or a fine of 5,000 euro’s (£38,000), although that depends on the accused’s knowledge of the girl’s real age.
The girl, Zahia Dehar was 17 years old when Ribery hired her. According to Ribery’s lawyer, Sophie Bottai, she told him she was 20 and he was not aware of her real age. Bottai said that for Ribery to be found guilty of the charges the girl "would have had to look like a minor and that was not the case and ... had informed him that she was under age, which was not the case". Zahia had "said in all the press that she told him (Ribery) and others that she was an adult", Bottai added. “The investigation has been going on for two months (and) confirms even more he could not have known her age," she said.
Zahia claimed Ribery, who is married with two children, invited her to Munich in April 2009 to celebrate his birthday. The exchange took place in a luxury hotel, where he paid her like he had in their previous three encounters.
Ribery and teammate Benzema were questioned by police concerning the issue, but had postponed the hearing until after the World Cup, in which Ribery was an important part of the French team. The World Cup campaign was a disaster, with unrest in the French camp, protests against the coach which resulted in the sending home of striker Nicholas Anelka and eventually France failed to win even a single game. “One has to ask whether he is not being made to pay for France's World Cup failure,” said Ribery's lawyer.
“There are moments in life which are depressing and wearing, this moment surely is one of those. I have to survive this and am at rock-bottom now. It's not easy for me, but I have to deal with it.” Ribery said. He said he expected to bounce back from this and focus on what was important, football. However, this scandal has caused uproar amongst fans and officials alike, some suggesting Ribery be removed from the team. In an official statement, Rama Yade, the Junior Sports Minister said that any player under investigation should not be allowed to represent the country at an international level.
But Ribery told reporters in Germany that he was not worried about his career, which would be severely damaged if he is found guilty, he’d face up to three years imprisonment. “I don't fear for my future, my career, neither for the national team nor at Bayern. I am not worried about my day in court in Paris because I didn't knowingly do anything wrong. I'm sure I will regain the trust of the people, who perhaps have doubts about me now. I will give them happiness; I will show them great skill, play with positive emotions and score goals - like in the past.”
“My family is here for me. Especially I want to thank my wife. And the whole club is backing me all the way, too. I will never forget this. The first two years in Bundesliga have been wonderful, and they passed perfectly. Everybody hailed me, but in the hard times, particularly when you have private problems, you realize who is backing you and who proves to have a huge heart. Here at Bayern Munich I'm surrounded by very good people. I never had such a club. Bayern is a family too, who catch me when I fall.” Ribery went on to thank his wife, who has stood by his side throughout the scandal and also thanked Bayren for their growing support.
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