Soccer

French politician accuses Karim Benzema of having links to a terrorist organization

France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has accused Karim Benzema of being close to the Muslim Brotherhood.

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October 17, 2023 05:40PM EDT

Karim Benzema reacted to the conflict between Hamas and Israel only a few days ago on X (Twitter). “All our prayers for the inhabitants of Gaza who are once again victims of these unjust bombings which spare no women or children,” the Al-Hilal star wrote.

His comments made a lot of noise, especially in France, where he’s recently been accused of having links to a terrorist organization. In an appearance on CNews, the French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said: “Mr. Karim Benzema, he has ties, as we all know, with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

The Muslim Brotherhood is a transnational Islamic organization considered terrorist in France. Darmanin wasn’t the only one to react to Benzema’s post on X with strong accusations against the striker.

Karim Benzema receives strong accusations in France

Speaking on the same TV channel, Nadine Morano – another French politician – also called the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner an “agent of Hamas propaganda” shortly after he sent prayers to the people of Gaza.

Karim Benzema

“Just by writing that, he is an agent of Hamas propaganda because Hamas has a strategy to physically destroy Isreal, but also to destroy Israel through international public opinion,” Morano said.

$Karim Benzema\'s salary at Al Ittihad: How much he makes per hour, day, week, month, and year?$

Other players who showed support for Gaza

While Benzema’s message has probably made the most noise, he was not the only soccer player who voiced his support for the inhabitants of Gaza.

Mouctar Diakhaby (Valencia), Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray), Nabil Fekir (Betis), Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal), Ahmed Abdel Kader (Al Ahly), Musa Al-Taamari (Montpellier), Zakaria Aboukhlal (Toulouse), Aliou Dieng (Al Ahly) or Nassir Mazraoui (Bayern Munich) have also shown solidarity with Palestine.

Martín O’donnell

Martin O'Donnell is a bilingual sports writer fluent in English and Spanish, currently serving as the Editor of Bolavip. He began his journey with the website in February 2021, making a name for himself through comprehensive coverage of soccer, NFL, and NBA, with a specialty in real-time reporting of major events such as the World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and the Super Bowl. In June 2024, Martin took on the role of Subeditor, where he excelled in overseeing the publication of stories, assisting staff writers, and ensuring content quality. His prior experience includes managing social media for CONMEBOL Libertadores and Sudamericana in English and Spanish, as well as reporting on Brazilian football for Sambafoot. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and ability to capture breaking news, Martin has consistently been a valuable asset to the Bolavip team, especially during crucial sports seasons involving trades, playoffs, and finals. Now, as the Editor, Martin brings his extensive experience and keen editorial sense to lead Bolavip’s team, driving the website's growth and ensuring it remains a top source for sports news and analysis.