A trial begins on Tuesday involving six men accused of blackmailing and attempting to extort millions of euros from French footballer Paul Pogba, who plays for Juventus and the French national team. The group is also accused of holding Pogba at gunpoint during the ordeal.
This case has caused a major shock in French football circles, especially because the accused include three of Pogba’s childhood friends and his own brother, Mathias Pogba.
Pogba’s Challenges in Football and Personal Life
The trial comes at a difficult time for Pogba, who is also facing troubles in his football career. Juventus recently terminated his contract after he was suspended for doping, with the ban lasting until March 2024.
Prosecutors say the group tried to extort €13 million (around £10.8 million) from Pogba. The case first came to light in August 2022 when Mathias posted a series of videos on social media. In these videos, recorded in multiple languages, he hinted at “explosive revelations” about his younger brother but avoided giving clear details.
Later, Mathias accused Paul of using witchcraft to harm his French teammate Kylian Mbappé. These claims were dismissed by Paul Pogba’s legal team and his agent Rafaela Pimenta, who revealed that the videos were part of a larger pattern of threats and extortion attempts targeting the player.
Details of the Blackmail Plot
Paul Pogba had already reported the threats to authorities in both Italy and France in mid-2022. He told investigators that in March 2022, some childhood friends from his hometown of Roissy-en-Brie tricked him into meeting them. During the encounter, Pogba was held at gunpoint by two masked men carrying assault rifles.
The men demanded €13 million, claiming the footballer owed them for not supporting them financially after becoming a professional player. Pogba said he paid them only €100,000 at the time.
The intimidation didn’t stop there. Pogba said he faced pressure in various locations, including France’s national training center in Clairefontaine, his home in Manchester, and Juventus’ training facilities.
One incident involved Pogba paying a €57,000 bill incurred by the same friends at an Adidas store on Paris’ famous Champs-Elysées.
Legal Proceedings
Paul Pogba’s lawyer, Pierre-Jean Douvier, declined to comment ahead of the trial. However, a police report describes the accused as a “criminal team” whose goal was to extort money from Pogba after he cut them off financially in early 2022.
The accused, including Mathias, deny the charges. They claim they were also victims of the masked gunmen who have not yet been identified. Despite this, the charges against them include extortion, kidnapping, and forming a criminal gang.
Mathias is accused of pressuring his brother and family to pay the €13 million. Though he wasn’t present during the night of the alleged kidnapping, he faces charges of attempted extortion and involvement in a criminal gang.
Strained Family and Friendships
Mathias has claimed he was manipulated into participating in the scheme, calling himself a “puppet.” He has also expressed a desire to reconcile with Paul, saying he hopes to rebuild their brotherly bond.
The case, known as the “Pogba affair,” has drawn attention to the challenges professional athletes face in maintaining relationships with childhood friends and family once fame and money enter the picture.
In September 2023, after being questioned together with the defendants, Paul Pogba reflected on the situation. “Despite everything that’s happened, they’ll always have a place in my heart… they were like my family,” he said.
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