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In a landmark ruling, a Paris court has sentenced six men, including Mathias Pogba, the brother of French international football star Paul Pogba, to prison terms ranging from three to eight years for their involvement in a high-profile extortion case targeting the footballer. The verdict was delivered on Thursday, following a trial that has captivated the public and raised serious questions about family loyalty and criminal conduct.
Mathias Pogba received a three-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and was fined €20,000 for his role in attempting to extort €13 million (approximately $13.6 million) from his brother. The court determined that he would serve the remaining year under house arrest with electronic monitoring. His defense team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
The mastermind of the operation, identified as Roushdane K., was sentenced to eight years in prison. The other defendants received varying sentences: Boubacar C. was sentenced to four years (two suspended), Machikour K. received four years (three suspended), Mamadou M. was given five years (one year suspended), and Adama C. also received five years.
The case originated in March 2022 when Paul Pogba reported that he had been the target of extortion attempts by a group of individuals he described as childhood friends and acquaintances. During the investigation, Pogba disclosed that he had already paid €100,000 ($104,000) to this group in an attempt to resolve the situation. The extortionists allegedly threatened him with violence and intimidation, claiming he owed them financial support due to his success as a global soccer star.
The court heard harrowing details of how Pogba was held at gunpoint by hooded men during these attempts at coercion. Prosecutors argued that the defendants sought not only financial gain but also aimed to damage Pogba’s reputation by alleging he had sought the services of a witch doctor to cast spells on his teammate Kylian Mbappé—an accusation that Pogba vehemently denied.
This case garnered significant media attention when Mathias Pogba took to social media to threaten revelations about his brother and others in their circle, including Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and fellow footballer Mbappé. The public nature of these threats heightened interest in the proceedings and brought scrutiny to the dynamics within the Pogba family.
Paul Pogba’s recent career has been marred by controversies beyond this extortion case. Earlier this month, Juventus announced a mutual agreement to terminate his contract amid ongoing issues related to a doping ban that had initially seen him suspended for four years but was later reduced to 18 months after appeal.
This decision came after Pogba tested positive for testosterone last year and has since faced challenges reintegrating into competitive football.
The court also recognized that Paul Pogba suffered economic losses amounting to €197,000 (£162,800) and moral damages of €50,000 (£41,300) due to the actions of the defendants. The court ordered all defendants except Mathias Pogba to jointly compensate him for these losses.
The implications of this case extend beyond legal ramifications; it raises critical questions about familial relationships in high-pressure environments like professional sports. As one of the most recognizable figures in soccer today, Paul Pogba’s experiences resonate with many athletes who face similar challenges regarding loyalty and exploitation.
