The lawyer of Karim Benzema has hit back at France’s interior minister after he accused the French football star, who plays for Saudi team Al-Ittihad, of links to the Muslim Brotherhood movement, AFP reports.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin made the accusations after the reigning Ballon d’Or winner and former Real Madrid forward posted a message on social media about the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza following the surprise attack by Hamas on October 7.

“All our prayers are for the inhabitants of Gaza who are once again victims of these unjust bombings which spare no women or children,” Benzema wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Darmanin, speaking on the CNews Channel, alleged that Benzema “has a notorious link with the Muslim Brotherhood”.

“This is false! Karim Benzema has never had the slightest relationship with this organisation,” Benzema’s layer Hugues Vigier said in a statement.