Paris: The legal restrictions on France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema over his alleged involvement in a sextape case have been partially lifted, allowing him to contact international teammate Mathieu Valbuena, a judiciary source said on Thursday.

Karim Benzema

The investigating magistrate in the case ruled that the legal constraints can be removed, but prosecutors immediately appealed against the decision, with the case to be heard before a court in Versailles, outside Paris on March 4.

Wednesday's ruling 'is immediately enforceable', the prosecutors' office said in a statement.