Scandal: Zahia Dehar, who
is not facing charges, told French officers that she had
£2,000-a-night sex with three French football players but claims
they treated her with 'utter respect'
The teenage call girl accused of sleeping with at least
three French football stars when she was underage today broke her
silence over the scandal announcing: ‘I loved them
all’.
Zahia Dehar, now 18, said she was ‘shocked’ that the players
were facing up to three years in prison for the crime.
She said that Franck Ribery, 27, Karim Benzema, 22, and Sidney
Govou, 30, had all treated her ‘with utter respect’ and should be
left alone.
It came as provocative pictures of the would-be model were
released in Paris.
Ribery, believed to be a £40 million target for Chelsea, flew
the young French Moroccan to a hotel in Germany, where he is
currently a winger for Bayern Munich, last Spring.
He is then said by police to have paid her up to £2,000 for sex
– something he continued to do back in France.
Miss Dehar was one of 18 girls quizzed during a police raid on
the Café Zaman, a notorious brothel on the Champs Elysee, last
week.
She has told vice squad officers that she had £2,000-a-night sex
with all three players.
Prostitution is legal in France, but those selling sex must be
over 18.
Miss Dehar, who lives in Paris, even celebrated her 18th
birthday with Ribery – many months after their relationship
started.
Ribery – who was sent off for a horror tackle last night playing
in the Champions League semi-final against Lyon – told examining
magistrates that he ‘saw the girl over a number of months in
2009’.
If found guilty the Muslim convert faces a maximum of
three years in prison and a fine of up to £40,000.
‘Judge Andre Dando has yet to decide if Ribery is to be
prosecuted but it remains a possibility,’ said a judicial source in
Paris.
Professional: Miss Dehar
started working as a prostitute in March 2008 and was making up to
£20,000 a month sleeping with wide range of rich clients,
especially multi-millionaire footballers
Bad to worse: All eyes
were on Franck Ribery last night as his Bayern Munich side took on
Lyon in the Champions League semi-final first leg - and he managed
to get himself sent off
‘Ribery has admitted having sexual erelationship with
the girl over several months, but denies knowing she was underage.
He could be in very serious trouble at the worst possible time in
his career.
‘The same goes for the other players if they are found to have
been knowingly sleeping with an underage prostitute.’
Ribery is hoping to star in this summer’s World Cup finals in
South Africa, and is also contemplating a lucrative move from
Bayern Munich, to England, Spain or Italy.
He and the other three players were summoned to appear before
Judge Dando after the swoop on the Zaman. It has now been shut by
the authorities.
A man known as 'Abou' from a hit French reality TV show was
questioned about his alleged role in acting as a 'pimp' to
introduce players to the girls.
Ribery — bought by Bayern for £25million in 2007 —
converted to Islam to marry his French Algerian wife Wahiba. The
couple have two daughters.
Govou, a winger with Lyon, is single but has a five-year-old
daughter with his ex-girlfriend, Pascale. The two men will meet in
the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday in Munich.
Benzema, who plays for Real Madrid and is a target for
Manchester United, is believed to be single.
Despite the new revelations, Sophie Bottai, Ribery's lawyer,
continued to deny that her client had slept with the girl.
‘This affair does not concern my client and could only, in the
worst case, involve his private life alone,’ she said. Lawyers for
Govou, and Benzema also deny any wrongdoing.
Show of support:
Riberty's wife Wahiba, right, was at the game at the Allianz Arena
in Munich to watch her husband
While international players for teams like England have
frequently been involved in scandals involving sex and alcohol,
this is the first time that the French have been connected with
widespread sleaze allegations.
France was widely criticised last year for the way they
qualified for the World Cup.
Thierry Henry, the former Arsenal star, was alleged to have
handled the ball which set up a goal against Ireland which secured
the draw France needed to go to South Africa, where the competition
starts in June.
Denial: Ribery's
team-mates, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, left, and Sidney Govou,
who plays for Lyon, both deny any wrongdoing
Zahia Dehar celebrated her 18th birthday on February
28th this year. A picture taken on the day shows her celebrating it
with Ribery.
According to police files, Miss Dehar started working as a
prostitute in March 2008. She was making up to £20,000 a month
sleeping with wide range of rich clients, especially
multi-millionaire footballers.
They would fly her to destinations like Dubai, putting her up in
five star hotels. She is also known to have attended European Cup
football ties involving English clubs.
Detectives said Miss Dehar has cooperated fully with their
enquiries, and did not face criminal charges herself.
Notorious: Miss Dehar was
one of 18 girls quizzed during a police raid on the Café Zaman, a
brothel on the Champs Elysee that has now been closed, last
week
She is currently staying with friends in Paris.
Despite the scandal, indications are that Ribery’s wife will stand
by him. She has told his club that she will attend tonight’s
European Cup tie against Lyon.
Miss Dehar told police: ‘I slept with the men, but I wasn’t
truthful about my age.
‘I loved them all. They treated me with utter respect and should be
left alone. They spoiled me, and looked after me. They were my
men.’
Govou is said to have told detectives that ‘I was very surprised
when she asked me for money.’