体坛英语新闻：French soccer player Ribery under judicial investigation on sex probe

PARIS, July 20 (Xinhua) -- French veteran soccer player Franck Ribery was placed Tuesday under judicial investigation after allegation of having paid sex relations with a minor, local medias reported.

The 27-year-old midfielder was under judicial investigation on charges of soliciting underage prostitute in 2009 as the judge found serious and concordant proofs witnessing Ribery's knowledge of the real age of the Champs Elysees nightclub's young escort- girl, according to television news channel I Tele's report.

The Bayern Munich midfielder was released meanwhile further investigation are underway. He risks to be sentenced to jail for three years and pay a 45,000 euros (58,048 U.S. dollars) fine.

Franck Ribery

Ribery's lawyer Sophie Bottai said her client did not know the prostitute's real age "as she had not the appearance of a minor and she said to Ribery and the others that she was adult."

Ribery, a father of two kids admitted having paid sexual relations with the young escort-girl but denied his knowledge about her real age.

Zahia affair, named according to the prostitute's name, sparked after she unveiled ahead the last World Cup tournament in Paris Match magazine her sexual relations with several France team players when she was minor.