Karim Benzema will not play for France at Euro 2016 - French Football Federation

The Real Madrid striker has not played for his country since being questioned by police in November in connection to an alleged blackmail attempt against Mathieu Valbuena, over a sextape reportedly showing national team-mate Valbuena and his partner. There has yet to be an official announcement of a decision on his ban over an alleged blackmail scandal.

Benzema has also been caught up in a money laundering case in which he has been called as a witness.

It was always deemed unlikely that he would be recalled by his country while such negative publicity surrounded him.

He apparently met France head coach Didier Deschamps and FFF President Noel Le Graet on Wednesday to discuss the situation.

Benzema, 28, has won 81 caps for the national side since 2007, scoring 27 goals for Les Bleus.

"The ability of players to work towards unity, in and around the group, and exemplary preservation group are also taken into account by all the Federation," said the FFF in a statement.

Ahead of the decision, Benzema wrote on his Facebook page: "Whatever happens... Once a Blue, always a Blue!"

Benzema has won the La Liga and the Champions League with the Spanish side and has twice won the Copa del Rey.

He won four Ligue 1 titles and a Coupe de France with Olympique Lyon before joining Madrid for around £35m in 2009.

He was part of the France side that lifted the European Under-17 Championship 12 years ago.