In an extortion case that targeted the soccer player two years ago, Paul Pogba’s brother will go on trial with five other individuals, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday.
Following an inquiry into whether Pogba was the victim of extortion by his brother, Mathias Pogba, and boyhood pals, the office said a judge ordered the six men to appear before a court.
Mathias Pogba, 34, was sentenced to stand trial “for the offenses of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy,” according to the prosecutor’s office. The court date has not been announced.
The five other people, who are only known by their first names, are accused of intimidating the France midfield player and demanding €13 million ($14.3 million) from him when he rose to prominence on the international soccer scene. They are charged with criminal conspiracy, extortion, and attempted extortion involving the use of force, kidnapping, and incarceration to further a crime or misdemeanor.
Pogba stated to the investigators that he gave the organized group, which included his brother, €100,000. The 31-year-old player reportedly informed authorities that the alleged extortionists intended to defame him by saying he requested a witch doctor to cast a spell on teammate Kylian Mbappé. These accusations were reported by French media. Pogba refuted the claim.
An attempt to reach Mathias Pogba’s attorney for comment was met with silence.
Further on this story
Following Mathias Pogba’s social media threats to release “explosive” revelations about his brother, Paul’s agent Rafaela Pimenta, and Mbappé, the case was made public. Another soccer player who played for lower-tier European teams for the majority of his career was Mathias Pogba.
Once regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world, Pogba has recently made more news for his personal issues than for his skill on the pitch.
He tested positive for testosterone while at Juventus earlier this year, and the Italian anti-doping court banned him for a maximum of four years. He has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
Pogba was renowned for his adaptability, strength, and goal-scoring instincts. In 2016, after his return to Manchester United, the team paid Juventus a then-record €105 million in transfer fees.
After joining Juventus again in 2022, Pogba had trouble with injuries. He had a knee injury that prevented him from participating in France’s World Cup run in 2022. With Pogba, France won the final world cup game against Croatia.
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