The president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Le Graet, has said Karim Benzema deserves a second chance and is being unfairly treated.
Benzema has been charged with complicity to blackmail teammate, Matthieu Valbuena in a sextape plot, which even lead to his invitation by the police.
Benzema has been suspended from the France team by the FFF and could miss the Euro 2016, pending the investigation.
“Maybe I have protected Karim excessively in this matter, but I really like him and we all make mistakes,” Le Graet told Paris Breizh Media.
“He got carried away by stupidity in this case. He has been stupid like a donkey. But I don’t believe in lecturing people.
“There are good and bad people in all environments, among teachers, among businessmen, anywhere.
“Benzema comes from a difficult environment and he got carried away.
“Karim is a guy I really like. People talk to me about the way he expresses himself, but we take everyone as they are. Football is like that.”
