France on Thursday indefinitely suspended star striker Karim Benzema over criminal charges of involvement in a sex-tape blackmail attempt against teammate Mathieu Valbuena.

French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet said the suspension would include the 2016 European Championship, which starts in France in exactly six months, unless the case is settled beforehand.

Real Madrid star Benzema took the outcome in stride, tweeting that he respected the decision.