French judges have ordered six men, including Mathias Pogba, the brother of football star Paul Pogba, to stand trial in a shocking kidnap and extortion case. The trial follows a two-year investigation into the March 2022 incident, where Paul Pogba was allegedly kidnapped in the suburbs of Paris.
According to prosecutors, five individuals close to Paul Pogba are accused of meticulously planning the kidnapping. The former Manchester United star was allegedly held at gunpoint and asked to pay €13 million ($14 million) by two unidentified men.
Although Mathias Pogba was not present at the kidnapping, prosecutors claim he applied pressure on his younger brother to hand over the demanded money. Mathias, a former footballer himself, has denied the charges, stating that he was also a victim of the armed men.
The alleged blackmail plot surfaced in 2022, gaining significant media attention. Paul Pogba, who currently plays for Juventus and the French national team, filed a formal complaint with Italian authorities, accusing his brother and others of attempting to extort millions from him.
One aspect of the case that captured headlines was the claim that Pogba asked a witch doctor to curse his teammate Kylian Mbappe. Paul Pogba has strongly denied these accusations.
During the investigation, Pogba admitted he had financially supported the group of men previously but refused further payments when they asked for seven million euros in 2021.
Mathias Pogba posted a series of videos on social media in September 2022 accusing his brother of abandoning his family. These posts came shortly after he had promised “great revelations” about his brother in multiple languages.
Mathias claims he was manipulated by the other suspects and expressed his hope to reconcile with Paul. The trial will determine whether these claims hold weight or if he was part of a broader extortion scheme targeting his famous brother.
The case is a significant scandal in French football, with many awaiting the outcome of the trial.