Intro:

The trial involving Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema resumed in Paris on Monday (20th January), with the two footballers facing up to three years in prison on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute.

Script:

SOUNDBITE (FRENCH) Carlo Alberto Brusa, Lawyer for Franck Ribery
"As you can see, we are indeed without our respective clients. We confirm to you that Mr. Ribery and his brother-in-law will not be attending the trial today."

SOUNDBITE (FRENCH) Carlo Alberto Brusa, Lawyer for Franck Ribery 
"As far as I'm concerned, I will do everything possible so that France and a leading football player will be cleared of these defamatory and undignified accusations against Mr Ribery."

SOUNDBITE (FRENCH) Sylvain Cormier, Lawyer for Karim Benzema
"From the start, Karim Benzema has explained that nothing happened on May 11, 2008. We are going to try to demonstrate that this is the truth and even prove it and I hope that we are cleared. I hope that we will be cleared purely and simply, not only on the benefit of the doubt or on a technicality but because there are a number of incoherences and probably some lies on the part of the civil party's (Zahia Dehar) testimony."