Ribery, Benzema not guilty of soliciting underage prostitute

Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema have been acquitted on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute.

The French judge ruled there wasn't enough proof and that the men were aware that the self-described escort Zahia Dehar, now 21, was a minor at the time. 

The two footballers, who didn't attend the trial, would have faced up to three years in prison if found guilty.

Dehar contends Ribery flew her to Munich as a birthday present to himself in 2009 when she was under 18. She said she lied to the players and told them she was an adult. Dehar was also not present at the trial. 

Although Ribery has admitted to having sex with Dehar, he claims he did not pay her and that he did not know she was a prostitute or a minor at the time. 

Benzema has denied all the allegations. The 26-year-old Benzema is alleged to have paid $678 to have sex with Dehar in May 2008, the night he won the French player of the year award playing for his former club, Lyon. Dehar was 16 at the time.