The latest twist in a prostitution scandal involving members of the French national football team has come as a relief to manager Raymond Domenech.
According to Liberation newspaper, the police investigation into whether Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema knowingly paid for sex with an under-age escort girl has been put on hold until after the World Cup.
"We're not moving till the World Cup is over," a police insider told Liberation. "There is no rush. The implications are too serious."
It means that Domenech should be assured the services of two of his most important players when the squad travels to South Africa next month.
For the time being, the pressure may be off. But the fall-out from the scandal could prove highly damaging to the image of French football, as well as the personal careers of those involved.
This week the public has been lapping up more salacious details about how a blonde Algerian-born teenager called Zahia Dehar worked as a 2,000-euros-a-night (£1,740) courtesan to some of the biggest names in French football.
In an interview with Paris-Match, Ms Dehar described how she was flown to Munich in April last year on the occasion of Mr Ribery's 26th birthday. The Frenchman currently plays for Bayern-Munich.
"I came on an aeroplane with one of my friends who I suppose [Ribery] had asked regarding my services. He had booked a room in a luxury hotel. We had sexual relations and he paid me… I was a nice birthday present, wouldn't you say?" she said.
Nightclub sting
The problem is that at the time Ms Dehar was 17 years old. Under French law, paid sex with someone under the age of 18 is regarded as sex with a minor - and punishable by three years in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros.
Dehar insisted she never told her age either to Mr Ribery or to the Real Madrid player Karim Benzema, with whom she also claims to have had paid sex.
Mr Benzema, who has yet to be questioned in the case, has denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer.
A third French team-member, Sidney Govou, also allegedly used Ms Dehar's services after she turned 18 in February this year.
According to Liberation newspaper, the police investigation into whether Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema knowingly paid for sex with an under-age escort girl has been put on hold until after the World Cup.
"We're not moving till the World Cup is over," a police insider told Liberation. "There is no rush. The implications are too serious."
It means that Domenech should be assured the services of two of his most important players when the squad travels to South Africa next month.
For the time being, the pressure may be off. But the fall-out from the scandal could prove highly damaging to the image of French football, as well as the personal careers of those involved.
This week the public has been lapping up more salacious details about how a blonde Algerian-born teenager called Zahia Dehar worked as a 2,000-euros-a-night (£1,740) courtesan to some of the biggest names in French football.
In an interview with Paris-Match, Ms Dehar described how she was flown to Munich in April last year on the occasion of Mr Ribery's 26th birthday. The Frenchman currently plays for Bayern-Munich.
"I came on an aeroplane with one of my friends who I suppose [Ribery] had asked regarding my services. He had booked a room in a luxury hotel. We had sexual relations and he paid me… I was a nice birthday present, wouldn't you say?" she said.
Nightclub sting
The problem is that at the time Ms Dehar was 17 years old. Under French law, paid sex with someone under the age of 18 is regarded as sex with a minor - and punishable by three years in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros.
Dehar insisted she never told her age either to Mr Ribery or to the Real Madrid player Karim Benzema, with whom she also claims to have had paid sex.
Mr Benzema, who has yet to be questioned in the case, has denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer.
A third French team-member, Sidney Govou, also allegedly used Ms Dehar's services after she turned 18 in February this year.
