FFF President: France is over for Karim Benzema

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The president of the Federation Francaise de Football (FFF) Noel Le Graet has told sports newspaper L'Equipe that although Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema is a great player, "France is over for him."

France released the 23-name list for the country's men's football team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup late last month. The 30-year-old man was not among the seven strikers on the list.

Benzema was removed from the team at the end of 2015 when he was accused of blackmailing Mathieu Valbuena with a sex tape.

Benzema has helped Real Madrid win three European Champion League titles in a row. /VCG Photo

His failure to get a chance to play for his country in Russia came despite having helped Real Madrid win three European Champion Leagues titles in a row. Many veteran French footballers have also thrown their weight behind him, saying Benzema deserved a place in the team.

In an interview in May, Le Graet said France now plays a certain "style of play and we cannot go back" when asked about Benzema's failure to be picked into the national football team.

Benzema has not been picked by the French men's football team since October 2015. /VCG Photo

Enraged by such comments, Benzema responded on Twitter: "Mr (Le) Graet, with all due respect, you’ve lost an opportunity to remain silent. I’ve discovered your true face, and this isn’t the one that said he appreciated me and wouldn’t discuss the subject of team selections!"

The FFF president was apparently not happy, tweeting in response: "I'm not sure if Benzema said these words. I did not mean any harm to him with what I said before. I have been considering him as a great player, but France is over for him."

Le Graet also mentioned his view for the goal of the French squad at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and gave semifinals as his answer.