PARIS -- Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery and Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema were acquitted on charges of soliciting an underage prostitute on Wednesday, ending a case that has lasted more than three years and tarnished both players reputation. Clarence Weatherspoon Jersey . The French judge ruled there wasnt enough proof the men were aware that self-described escort Zahia Dehar, now 21, was a minor at the time. The case has been hanging over the players since July 2010, when a French judge issued preliminary charges against them. Neither player was president as the criminal court announced the verdicts, but the relief and emotion got to Riberys lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, who was in tears as he phoned the France star to tell him hed been cleared of all charges. "When you experience moments like that you get goose bumps, as he told me himself," Brusa told The Associated Press when asked how Ribery felt upon hearing the news. "He has an extraordinary character, and hes someone I respect a lot. I think its a victory, a victory for justice." The two footballers had 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 says 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. "We did a lot of work, serious work analyzing the file to establish the fact that there was no proof (that Ribery knew she was underage)," Brusa told the AP. Prostitution is legal in France, but prostitutes must be over 18. Benzemas lawyer Sylvain Cormier said he "could feel all the weight coming off, it was morally very trying." Cormier called the verdict "the end of a nightmare" for Benzema. "It was very painful for him. Hes a strong person, he really ipressed me. Four years is a very long time." Benzema has denied all the allegations. The 26-year-old Benzema is alleged to have paid 500 euros ($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. Ribery had the best season of his career in 2012-13, helping Bayern win the Bundesliga, the German Cup and Champions League. He finished third in the recent Ballon dOr vote behind Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. "Playing football with that weighing on you is not easy and for me its the sign of a great champion," Brusa said. "He showed in 2013 that hes a fantastic player." Benzema has passed the 100-goal mark for Madrid since joining the Spanish giant from Lyon in 2009. The criminal court trial had initially been set for last June but was adjourned for procedural reasons. It resumed last week. Ribery is alleged to have had sex with Dehar three times — including at the home of Kamel Ramdani, 39, one of several people who were on trial after a probe into a suspected network of prostitutes operating out of a nightclub called "Zaman Cafe" on Paris Champs-Elysees. The establishment was run by Georges Farhat, 30, who employed his younger brother, Elie Farhat, 26. Both were present to hear their verdicts. Georges was sentenced to 18 months in prison, nine of those suspended, and fined 20,000 euros ($27,150). His brother was handed a one-year prison sentence, with six months suspended and fined 5,000 euros ($6,800). Ramdani was sentenced to five months in jail and fined 5,000 euros ($6,800). Cheap 76ers Jerseys . Best has been bothered by concussion problems and hasnt played since Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco. After starting 5-0, Detroit has lost four of six, beginning with that game against the 49ers. Timothe Luwawu Jersey . Floundering in the English Premier League, United has delivered better performances in Europe this season and stunned Bayern by taking the lead against the run of play through Nemanja Vidics header in the 58th minute. Bayern had dominated possession but struggled to create a clear-cut chance before Schweinsteiger arrowed a half-volley high into the net in the 67th to give the German side a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Munich next week. http://www.cheap76ersjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-moses-malone-jersey . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Kiko Alonsos season is over before it even began after the Buffalo Bills starting linebacker was diagnosed with a torn ligament in his left knee. General manager Doug Whaley provided the update in a statement released by the team on Wednesday, a day after Alonso was hurt while working out in Oregon. Whaley said Alonso will require surgery to repair a torn ACL, and "will likely miss the 2014 season." The Bills did not provide any details as to how Alonso was hurt. The injury is a significant blow to the Bills before they even open training camp in suburban Rochester on July 20. Alonso was an NFL defensive rookie of the year contender last season after being drafted in the second round out of Oregon. He led Buffalo with 159 tackles, two fumble recoveries and tied for the team lead with four interceptions while barely missing a snap in playing all 16 games. After playing in the middle last season, Alonso was moving to the outside linebacker spot as part of the Bills shift to a 4-3 defensive scheme under new co-ordinator Jim Schwartz. Cheap NBA Jerseys. The position switch was also sparked in part by the Bills signing of run-stopping specialist Brandon Spikes, who is better suited to play in the middle. Alonso had hip surgery this off-season, which limited him in participating in spring practices. But he was expected to be ready for the start of camp. "We feel badly for Kiko, because he has worked very hard this off-season in preparation for the upcoming season," Whaley said. "But we look forward to his return with his style of play that made him one of the leagues outstanding rookies in 2013." The Bills do have some depth behind Alonso. Manny Lawson, an eight-year NFL veteran, has experience playing the position. The Bills also selected linebacker Preston Brown in the third round of the draft in April. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '