Six males linked to Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba face trial from Tuesday, accused of blackmail, tried extorsion of hundreds of thousands of euros and holding the participant at gunpoint.
The case on the Paris legal court docket has shocked the French soccer world—all of the extra so as a result of the perpetrators embody three childhood associates and Pogba’s personal brother Mathias.
The event comes as Pogba battles skilled woes, as Juventus this month cancelled his contract following his suspension till March 2025 for doping.
In whole, the group are accused of trying to squeeze 13 million euros ($13.5 million) out of the participant.
Mathias was himself the one to go public within the case, publishing a video on social networks in August 2022 in French, Italian, English and Spanish.
He promised revelations about his youthful brother that have been “prone to be explosive” whereas remaining imprecise concerning the particulars.
In a subsequent clip, Mathias accused his youthful brother of casting an evil spell on his France teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Paul Pogba’s legal professionals and his agent, Rafaela Pimenta, mentioned in an announcement later in August 2022 that the movies “got here on high of threats and makes an attempt at extortion as a part of a legal gang” in opposition to their consumer.
He had already filed legal complaints in Italy and France in July that 12 months.
Pogba instructed French investigators that he had in March 2022 been “tricked by childhood associates” from the neighbourhood in Roissy-en-Brie outdoors Paris the place he and Mathias grew up.
He accused them of snatching him earlier than he was held at gunpoint by two hooded males with assault rifles, demanding 13 million euros for “providers rendered” — blaming the footballer for failing to assist them financially since his skilled success.
Pogba mentioned on the time that he had paid them solely 100,000 euros.
The footballer mentioned he had additionally been pressured on the France nationwide group’s coaching centre in Clairefontaine, at certainly one of his houses in Manchester, and at Juventus’ coaching floor.
Pogba added that he had additionally paid a invoice of greater than 57,000 euros that the identical associates had racked up on the Adidas retailer on Paris’ glitzy Champs-Elysees avenue.
Paul Pogba’s lawyer, Pierre-Jean Douvier, declined to remark forward of the case when contacted by AFP.
– ‘Like my household’ –
A police overview of the case seen by AFP calls the childhood associates and different acquaintances of Paul Pogba “a legal group… with the target of extracting 13 million euros from Paul, who had reduce them off financially” early in 2022.
All the accused deny the allegations, claiming they themselves have been victims of the hooded males who held Paul Pogba at gunpoint who’ve by no means been recognized.
All 5 face fees of extorsion, kidnapping and forming a legal gang.
Mathias Pogba, who was not current the night time his brother was snatched, is suspected of “pressuring his brother Paul and his household to make sure the cost of the sum of 13 million euros”.
He’s charged with tried extorsion and forming a legal gang.
Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, mentioned he wouldn’t remark till the tip of the trial.
Mathias claimed months in the past that he was solely a “puppet” within the extorsion affair, making an emotional attraction to see his brother once more.
“I hope our bond can be strengthened once more” by means of a gathering, he mentioned on the time.
The so-called “Pogba affair” has put within the highlight brotherly ties poisoned by competitors and cash, but additionally the problem skilled footballers can face maintaining friendships with those that knew them earlier than their success.
“Regardless of all the things that’s occurred, they’ll at all times have a spot in my coronary heart… they have been like my household,” Paul Pogba mentioned in September 2023 after he and the defendants have been collectively questioned by investigators.
