Benzema files defamation suit against French minister
PARIS, Jan 18: Karim Benzema has filed a defamation lawsuit against France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, who accused the football star of having links to the Muslim Brotherhood.Darmanin said in October that Benzema had “a notorious link” to the Brotherhood a pan-Arab Islamist group which came to power in Egypt following elections a year after the 2011 popular uprising because Benzema posted a message of support online for the people of Gaza early into the Israel-Hamas war.In his complaint, which was filed on Monday with the Court of Justice of the Republic, Benzema firmly denied any links with the Muslim Brotherhood or any member of the organization. The CJR is a special court for cases targeting government ministers. “(Despite this) the Interior Minister does not hesitate to drag my name through the mud for non-existent links with this organization,” Benzema said in his complaint, adding that he had been portrayed as being “close to the enemy or directly an enemy” and that it was a breach of his honor. Benzema’s lawyer said on Tuesday that Benzema who is muslim was a victim of “political exploitation” with considerable consequences to his family.(AP)
Fan’s racist abuse of official leads to 1-point deduction
PARIS, Jan 18: French football club Bastia has been handed a one-point deduction after its second-tier game was disrupted when a fan racially abused an assistant referee.The French league said late Wednesday its disciplinary panel judged the case based on the racial abuse of the match official, plus fans lighting fireworks and throwing one on the field.Points deductions in such cases have been requested for more than a decade by anti-discrimination groups working in football. Play was stopped for several minutes during Bastia’s game in December against Quevilly-Rouen Metropole. The game ended 0-0 and the sanction effectively took away the point Bastia players earned on the field. (AP)
Formula E to take legal route after race cancellation
HYDERABAD, Jan 18: A blame game has started between Telangana government and Formula E after the cancellation of the electric race in Hyderabad.The second edition of Hyderabad E Prix was scheduled to be held on February 10 but Formula E cancelled the race alleging a breach contract by the new government.A four-year agreement was signed between Formula E, the BRS government and Greenko, which pulled out of the event after the inaugural edition. Congress came into power in December and staging the race is not at the top of its priority list.Last week, Deputy CM Vikaramarka said the his government would explore legal action against the tri-partite agreement between the Municipal and Urban department, Formula E and local promoter Greenko as it was executed in violation of Secretariat business rules. While Formula E is seeking the remaining amount as per the contract, the new government is considering ways to recover the money paid to series organisers.On Thursday, Formula E issued a fresh statement saying that it will take legal action to ensure the race contract is honoured. (PTI)
