'I love them all': Underage prostitute who slept with Franck Ribery and two other French football stars breaks her silence

By Peter Allen

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, 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 – widely considered to be France’s best player – told examining magistrates that he ‘saw the girl over a number of months in 2009’.


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


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.

‘Ribery has admitted having sexual relationship 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.


Questioned: If found guilty Franck Ribery faces a maximum of three years in prison and a fine of up to £40,000.


‘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.

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: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, left, and Sidney Govou, who plays for Lyon, 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.’


source: dailymail