Six men, including three childhood friends, the brother of Juventus, and France midfielder Paul Pogba, will stand trial starting Tuesday of blackmail, attempting to extort millions of euros, and menacing the player at gunpoint.
This development unfolds as Pogba deals with professional setbacks, including Juventus terminating his contract earlier this month following a suspension for doping until March 2025.
The accused allegedly attempted to extract 13 million euros ($13.5 million) from Pogba. Paul’s brother Mathias Pogba initially brought the case to public attention in August 2022 by posting a video online in multiple languages, hinting at explosive revelations about his younger brother.
Mathias later accused Paul of harming his teammate Kylian Mbappe through witchcraft. Following these accusations, Paul Pogba’s legal representatives stated that the videos were part of ongoing threats and extortion attempts by a criminal group.
Paul had lodged criminal complaints in Italy and France by July of that year. He reported to French authorities that in March 2022, he was ambushed by childhood friends and subsequently held at gunpoint by two masked men with assault rifles, who demanded 13 million euros for “services rendered,” citing his failure to financially assist them since gaining fame.
Paul disclosed that he initially paid them 100,000 euros. He also faced pressure at various locations, including the France national team’s training center, his residences in Manchester and Juventus’ training facility. Additionally, he covered a bill exceeding 57,000 euros that the same group had accumulated at an Adidas store in Paris.
Ahead of the trial, Paul Pogba’s attorney, Pierre-Jean Douvier, chose not to comment.
A police summary describes the group as a “criminal team” intent on extracting 13 million euros from Paul after he financially distanced himself from them earlier in 2022.
All defendants have denied the charges, asserting they, too, were victims of the unidentified gunmen. They face charges of extortion, kidnapping, and forming a criminal gang.
Mathias Pogba, who asserts he was absent the night Paul was abducted, is accused of pressuring his brother to ensure the payment was made. He faces charges of attempted extortion and forming a criminal gang. His lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, stated he would reserve comments until the trial concludes.
Months ago, Mathias described himself as merely a “puppet” in the extortion scheme and wanted to reconcile with his brother.
This case, known as the “Pogba affair,” highlights the complex dynamics of familial and old friendships strained by rivalry and financial success. Despite the turmoil, Paul Pogba remarked in September 2023 that these individuals would always hold a special place in his heart, likening them to family.
