Karim Benzema free to return to France team for Euro 2016 after Court of Appeal decision

Benzema had been prevented from meeting his France team-mate Mathieu Valbuena after being charged in connection with an alleged plot to blackmail the midfielder over a sex tape.

The Real Madrid striker remains under investigation but now the Court of Appeal of Versailles has partially lifted some of the restrictions around Benzema, namely the judicial ruling that he could not contact Valbuena.

However, the French Football Federation (FFF) has indicated that the 27-year-old cannot play for Les Bleus until his legal position has been clarified.

"A first step has been made," said Benzema's lawyer Sylvain Cormier, who said he would prove the Real Madrid player innocent.

In December, the FFF due to the circumstances of the case and has yet to issue a statement whether the striker, who has 27 goals in 81 international caps, will be welcomed back into Didier Deschamps’ squad.

There is still the possibility that Benzema’s case will go in front of an ethics committee, and in any case, Benzema is currently sidelined for several weeks and would not be available for the upcoming friendlies against Netherlands on March 25 and Russia on March 29.

In February, Deschamps said: "As of today, he is still not available so I cannot select him. It would need my president to decide (he can play) and for the law to give a positive answer as well.

"If I found myself in that situation, I would consider it and make my decision. Things can change. From a sporting point of view, I want to have the best team and therefore the best players. But in this case, there is also a judicial panel. We have to see how things develop."

Benzema has been charged with complicity in attempted blackmail and participation in a criminal association planning - an offence which is punishable by at least five years imprisonment.