Paul Pogba affair: launch of the trial of his five friends and his brother for “extortion” and “kidnapping”

The trial scheduled for this Tuesday, November 26 at 1:30 p.m., before the 16th chamber of the Paris criminal court, will have a particular flavor for Paul Pogba. If the fallen star of French football – he was suspended for doping, initially for four years, reduced to eighteen months following a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 4 – is at the center of the debates, these are six close to him who will be judged. Five childhood friends, as well as his older brother, Mathias, are expected to take the stand. They are accused “kidnapping”, “extortion”of “sequestration” et “criminal association”.

Reminder of the facts: on the night of March 19 to 20, 2022, while the French team gathered in Clairefontaine (Yvelines), Paul Pogba went to the town of Montévrain (Seine-et-Marne) with relatives. Forced to turn off his cell phone once he entered the apartment, the player was attacked by two hooded men with bulletproof vests and weapons, who took aim at him.

13 million euros expected

The two attackers, “not identified in procedure”demanded the star of the Blues to pay them 13 million euros. At issue: the protection of the athlete allegedly provided by a criminal group “without his knowledge”summarizes the order for postponement of the trial. The entire scene would have taken place under the eyes of Roushdane K., Paul Pogba's childhood friend who “introduced” the two armed individuals.

The pressure subsequently increased until September of the same year for the athlete to remit the expected 13 million euros. It was particularly during this period that the role of Mathias Pogba, absent from the apartment during the attack, became clearer. The latter would have gone to the city of Turin (Italy), where his little brother played for the local club, Juventus, in July 2022. He would then have asked Paul to pay the requested sum, in particular by threatening to broadcast a compromising video on social networks. Mathias Pogba, also a football player but with a less flamboyant career, would also have pushed their mother to convince Paul.

Almost a month after the attack, on April 19, the football player asked his financial advisor to withdraw 12.9 million euros from a bank account located in Dubai and transfer them to Adama C's account ., another close to the athlete. Paul Pogba finally withdrew, following warnings from his advisor.

Several of his relatives nevertheless purchased ready-to-wear worth 57,227 euros, in the store located on the Champs-Élysées of the German equipment manufacturer Adidas, at the end of March 2022. The internationally known brand sponsors Paul Pogba, who had therefore access to an internal account. In the same month, the football player also transferred 20,000 euros to Adama C., 40,000 euros to Machikour K. and 120,000 euros (divided into two payments, in March and April) to Boubacar C.. Unlike the 13 millions requested, these money transactions would, according to Paul Pogba, be financial support for his loved ones, in compensation for services rendered.

“A climate of pressure”

Third alert present in the file, the former star of the France team signed a contract, filled with inaccuracies and gray areas, to invest in cryptocurrency, for the benefit of a company not identified by the courts French. All in the presence of Boubacar C., who then had recurring contact with Roushdane K., the childhood friend present in the apartment where the attack took place, in March 2022.

In this affair, the name of the French football star, Kylian Mbappé, also appeared. According to Paul Pogba, his blackmailers wanted to discredit him by broadcasting messages in which he allegedly “asked a marabout from his family circle to cast a spell” to the Real Madrid striker, at the time a Paris Saint-Germain player.

Paul Pogba told the courts that he had to deal with “a climate of pressure”but also “visits” on “professional places”, “likely to have repercussions on his career”. A career, which has since been put on hold, but which Paul Pogba wishes to resume as soon as his suspension ends, in March 2025. Being able to leave this sprawling affair behind him would be a good launching pad.