Paul Pogba’s Blackmail Trial Set to Open in Paris

Six men associated with Juventus and French footballer Paul Pogba are facing trial in Paris, charged with blackmail, attempted extortion, and holding Pogba at gunpoint. The case, which has sent shockwaves through the French football community, is particularly shocking because three of the accused are childhood friends of Pogba, and one is his own brother, Mathias.

This trial comes at a difficult time for Pogba, whose career has faltered since his standout performance at the 2018 World Cup, where he scored in France’s victory over Croatia. Following a series of injuries, Pogba left Manchester United in 2022 and returned to Juventus, where his time has been marred by continuous treatment.

Recently, Juventus terminated his contract after he was suspended for a doping violation, which will keep him out until March 2025. The six defendants in Paris stand accused of attempting to extort 13 million euros ($13.5 million) from Pogba.

Mathias Pogba was the first to make the case public, posting a video on social media in August 2022, where he teased “explosive” revelations about his younger brother. In another video, Mathias accused Paul of using black magic on fellow France teammate Kylian Mbappe. In response, Paul Pogba’s legal team stated that these videos were part of a broader campaign of threats and extortion, leading Paul to file criminal complaints in both France and Italy that July.

Pogba told investigators that in March 2022, he was “tricked by childhood friends” from his Parisian neighborhood. He claimed that they kidnapped him and held him at gunpoint with two armed men, demanding 13 million euros for “services rendered” and accusing him of failing to financially support them.

Pogba stated he had only paid them 100,000 euros. He also reported being pressured at various locations, including the France national team’s training center, his home in Manchester, and Juventus’ facilities. Additionally, Pogba revealed he had paid a bill of over 57,000 euros incurred at an Adidas store on the Champs-Elysées in Paris by the same individuals. He expressed to Al-Jazeera that the ordeal had been mentally challenging, emphasizing how money can alter relationships and even tear families apart.

The accused men have denied the allegations, with one of their lawyers claiming they had a friendly relationship with Pogba, joking around and occasionally receiving financial assistance. However, a police report suggests that these men formed a “criminal team” with the goal of extorting 13 million euros from Pogba, who had stopped financially supporting them in early 2022.

The accused have claimed that they too were victims of the hooded men who allegedly held Pogba at gunpoint, but these assailants have never been identified. Five of the accused face charges related to extortion, kidnapping, and operating a criminal gang. Mathias Pogba, who was not present during the kidnapping, is charged with attempting to extort his brother by pressuring him and his family to ensure payment of the 13 million euros. His lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, has stated he will not comment until the trial concludes.