The French forward was lambasted by the writer and labelled a "gangster", for his poor behaviour but the judge has ruled in favour of the writer
A Parisian court has ruled in favour of journalist Daniel Riolo after Franck Ribery tried to sue the writer for describing the Bayern Munich forward as "scum".
Riolo published his book Racaille Football Club (Scum Football Club) in 2013, which served to lift the lid on, among other things, Ribery and Karim Benzema's involvement with an underage prostitute, an allegation for which the players were eventually cleared.
In the book, Riolo accuses Ribery of being one of the main perpetrators behind France's famously farcical 2010 World Cup campaign, where massive discontent and internal fighting led to Les Bleus crashing out at the group stage and an eventual complete refurbishment of the side in the years that followed.
Riolo referred to the forward as "scum", "scarface" and "gangster", but was backed by a judge who stated the journalist's comments were made objectively, citing French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot's similar "gangster" comments in the wake of the failed World Cup campaign.
Ribery's lawsuit against Riolo was described as "reckless" and the 32-year-old was ordered to pay €5,000 to the writer and his publisher. The French forward's lawyer, Carlo Alberto Brusa, released a statement stating that he will appeal the decision.
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