Bayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery is facing up to three years' jail time if found guilty of underage prostitution.

The France international has been charged with soliciting an underage prostitute for sex after Paris police undertook a raid at the request of an investigating magistrate.

A 16-year old prostitute had claimed that a number of France's national team paid to have sex with her but admits the players were unaware of her age at the time.

Ribery's lawyer, Sophie Bottai, said her clients intent was there but was the fact he had been told she was overage was in his favour.

"It is an intentional offence, he would have to know her age, which wasn't the case," Bottai said.

"She would have to look minor, which wasn't the case, she would have to tell him she was minor, which wasn't the case, since all over the press she claimed she was adult and that she was more than 20 years old."

Ribery's France teammate Karim Benzema is waiting to learn if charges will be laid against him.