French judges have ordered six men, including Paul Pogba’s brother Mathias, to stand trial in a high-profile kidnap and extortion case involving the former Manchester United midfielder. The trial follows a two-year investigation into the case that emerged in 2022.
According to Paris prosecutors, five people close to the World Cup winner meticulously planned a meeting on March 19, 2022, in the Paris suburbs. This meeting ended with Pogba being kidnapped and held by two unidentified men who demanded 13 million euros ($14 million) from him.
Although Mathias Pogba was not present at the meeting, prosecutors allege that he later pressured his younger brother to comply with the demands. The accused have all denied guilt, claiming they were victims of armed robbers and that they were assaulted after Pogba refused to pay.
Prosecutors have called for the trial of three childhood friends and two former acquaintances from Pogba’s hometown for extortion, illegal restraint, and criminal conspiracy. Pogba filed a complaint with Italian prosecutors, stating that he was targeted by a multi-million-euro blackmail plot. He reported that his blackmailers threatened to discredit him by claiming he consulted a “marabout” (witch doctor) to cast a spell on fellow France star Kylian Mbappe, which Pogba denies.
During the investigation, Pogba revealed that he had initially assisted the group but later refused to pay seven million euros in September 2021 and distanced himself from them. In late September 2022, Mathias Pogba posted incriminating videos on social media accusing his brother of abandoning his family. These posts followed another video in multiple languages promising “great revelations” about Paul Pogba.
Mathias has claimed that he feared for his safety and that of his family, stating he was manipulated by the other suspects and hoping for reconciliation with his younger brother.
