French footballer Karim Benzema has been fined €18,000 ($23,500) after being flashed on a Spanish motorway doing 216 km/h (134 mph) in a 100 km/h (62 mph) zone. The 25-year-old Real Madrid forward will also have his driving license suspended for eight months, a Spanish court ruled.
Benzema was driving an Audi RS5 that given to him following Real Madrid’s partnership with the German automaker. It is worth noting that the Spanish court initially scheduled a verdict in Benzema’s case for March 26, when France has a very important World Cup qualifying match against… Spain.
However, judges played it fair and accepted to move forward the trial by 11 days so that Benzema could play in the match. “In order not to cause an important damage to the defendant who acknowledges the facts, accepts the court’s decision and is willing to accept the fine, we have set a date that wouldn’t cause him any supplementary damage,” said a spokesman for the tribunal.
Benzema is not the only Real Madrid player to be fined for driving offences in recent weeks, with left-back Marcelo fined €6,000 for driving after his license had been revoked. Another Real Madrid star known for his love of speed but no so much for his skills behind the wheel is Cristiano Ronaldo, who wrecked a Ferrari 599 GTB in 2009. He is now driving an Audi R8 V10 Spyder.
By Dan Mihalascu
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