Six individuals associated with Juventus and French midfielder Paul Pogba are set to stand trial on Tuesday, facing charges of blackmail, attempted extortion amounting to millions of euros, and holding the player at gunpoint.
This case, which will be heard in the Paris criminal court, has sent shockwaves through the French football community, particularly as it involves three childhood friends and Pogba's own brother, Mathias.
The trial unfolds amid Pogba's ongoing professional challenges, as Juventus recently terminated his contract following a suspension until March 2025 due to doping violations. The accused are alleged to have attempted to extort 13 million euros (approximately $13.5 million) from Pogba.
Mathias Pogba was the first to publicly address the situation, releasing a video on social media in August 2022 that hinted at explosive revelations regarding his younger brother. In a follow-up video, he accused Paul of casting a malevolent spell on fellow French player Kylian Mbappe.
In response, Pogba's legal team and agent, Rafaela Pimenta, stated that these videos were part of a broader pattern of threats and extortion attempts. Pogba had already lodged criminal complaints in both Italy and France in July of that year.
Describing his ordeal, Pogba informed French investigators that in March 2022, he was "deceived by childhood friends" from the tough Paris neighborhood where he and Mathias were raised.
He alleged that they abducted him and that two masked men armed with assault rifles demanded 13 million euros for "services rendered," accusing him of failing to provide them with financial support. Pogba claimed he had only given them 100,000 euros.
He also reported being coerced at the France national team's training facility in Clairefontaine, at one of his residences in Manchester, and at Juventus' training ground.
Additionally, Pogba mentioned that he had covered a bill exceeding 57,000 euros incurred by these friends at an Adidas store on the prestigious Champs-Elysees in Paris. Paul Pogba's attorney, Pierre-Jean Douvier, refrained from making any comments prior to the trial.
His associates have all refuted the claims made against them. "They shared a friendly rapport, engaging in conversations and playful banter, and yes, perhaps Paul Pogba offered them some assistance," stated Karim Morand-Lahouazi, an attorney representing one of the defendants.
A police report reviewed by AFP describes Paul Pogba's childhood friends and other acquaintances as "a criminal organization... aiming to extract 13 million euros from Paul, who had severed their financial support" in early 2022. The defendants assert that they too were victims of the masked individuals who held Paul Pogba at gunpoint, whose identities remain unknown.
Five of the defendants are charged with extortion, kidnapping, and forming a criminal enterprise. Mathias Pogba, who was absent during the incident involving his brother, is alleged to have "pressured his brother Paul and his family to secure the payment of 13 million euros" and faces charges of attempted extortion.
Mathias Pogba’s attorney, Mbeko Tabula, stated that he would refrain from commenting until the trial concludes.