Six men go on trial in Paris on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in a blackmail and extortion scheme targeting Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba. The accused, including the player's brother, Mathias Pogba, are being tried for their alleged involvement in the case that made headlines back in 2022.
Three childhood friends and Paul Pogba's own brother, Mathias, are at the center of a high-stakes extortion plot that has left the French football world stunned.
The scandal first made headlines in August 2022, when Mathias Pogba took to social media with a video in French, Italian, English, and Spanish.
In this post, he promised revelations about his younger brother that were "likely to be explosive" while remaining vague about the details. He later accused Paul of casting an "evil spell" on France teammate Kylian Mbappé.
In response, Paul Pogba’s legal team and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, issued a statement that the videos "came on top of threats and attempts at extortion as part of a criminal gang" against their client.
Pogba had already filed criminal complaints in both Italy and France by July 2022.
Police investigate extortion claims by French football star Paul Pogba
Tricked by friends
In interviews with French investigators, Pogba described how, in March 2022, he was "tricked by childhood friends" from his hometown of Roissy-en-Brie, near Paris where he and Mathias grew up.
He accused them of snatching him before he was held at gunpoint by two hooded men with assault rifles, demanding €13 million for "services rendered" – blaming the footballer for failing to help them financially since his professional success.
Pogba said at the time that he had paid them "only" €100,000.
The footballer said he had also been pressured at the France national team's training centre in Clairefontaine, at one of his homes in Manchester, and at Juventus' training ground.
Pogba added that he had also paid a bill of more than €57,000 that the same friends had racked up at the Adidas store on Paris Champs-Elysees avenue.
Criminal gang
The accused deny the allegations, instead claiming to be victims of the same hooded men who allegedly held Pogba at gunpoint, though the identities of these individuals remain unknown.
All five suspects face charges of extortion, kidnapping, and forming a criminal gang.
Mathias, who was not present during the abduction, is accused of pressuring Paul and his family to ensure the 13-million-euro payment. He faces charges of attempted extortion and criminal gang formation.
He claimed months ago that he was only a "puppet" in the extorsion affair, making an emotional appeal to see his brother again.
"Despite everything that's happened, they'll always have a place in my heart... they were like my family," Paul Pogba said in September 2023 after he and the defendants were jointly questioned by investigators.
The trial comes as 2018 World Champion Pogba battles professional woes, as Juventus this month cancelled his contract following his suspension until March 2025 for doping.
(with newswires)
