Mathias Pogba, the elder brother of World Cup-winning French footballer Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison—two of which are suspended—by a Paris criminal court for his involvement in an extortion and kidnapping case against his younger sibling.
The court ruled that Mathias, along with five other individuals, attempted to extort €13 million ($13.6 million) from Paul Pogba in 2022. The sentencing follows a high-profile investigation that revealed shocking details of the alleged blackmail plot.
Mathias Pogba, who had already served time in detention, will serve the remaining year of his sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring. His lawyer has confirmed plans to appeal the ruling.
The Case Unfolded Without Paul Pogba’s Presence
Paul Pogba, who has played for clubs including Manchester United and Juventus, was notably absent from the proceedings. The court heard that the extortion scheme began in March 2022 when the midfielder was allegedly held at gunpoint by masked men, who demanded millions of euros in exchange for their silence.
The defendants—identified only by their first names—were accused of multiple crimes, including extortion, abduction, criminal conspiracy, and illegal confinement. Prosecutors said the group repeatedly intimidated Paul Pogba, arguing that he owed them financial support after achieving international fame.
Sentences for Co-Defendants
Roushdane K., described as the mastermind behind the extortion attempt, received an eight-year prison sentence. The remaining co-defendants also faced varying jail terms.
Economic and Emotional Losses
The court found that Paul Pogba suffered financial losses of €197,000 ($204,000) and emotional damages of €50,000 ($52,000). All defendants except Mathias Pogba were ordered to jointly reimburse these amounts.
Paul Pogba admitted during the investigation that he had paid €100,000 ($104,000) to the group, believing it would end the harassment.
Public Feud and Social Media Threats
The case came to light when Mathias Pogba posted a series of threats on social media, promising to release “explosive” revelations about his brother, fellow football star Kylian Mbappé, and Paul Pogba’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta.
Mathias, who had a modest football career playing for lower-tier European clubs, has denied any wrongdoing.
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