Paris prosecutors confirmed the investigation on Sunday, with the case reportedly focusing on the relationship between al-Khelaifi’s leadership of PSG and his position as chairman of beIN Media Group, a major sports broadcasting company.
According to French sports newspaper L’Équipe, the investigation centres partly on a meeting involving al-Khelaifi and representatives of France’s professional football league in July 2024.
The meeting reportedly took place a day after beIN Sports, the media group’s sports broadcasting arm, submitted a €100 million bid for the rights to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week.
The French professional football league subsequently accepted the offer.
The investigation was reportedly triggered by a complaint from Anticor, a French anti-corruption organisation, which raised questions over al-Khelaifi’s participation in discussions concerning the approval of beIN Sports’ bid while he was also serving as chairman of the media group.
Anticor alleges that al-Khelaifi’s dual roles created a potential conflict of interest, given that he occupied a senior position at both a leading Ligue 1 club and the company seeking broadcasting rights from the league.
The case has been entrusted to France’s anti-corruption and financial police, who are responsible for investigating the allegations.
The investigation centres on whether al-Khelaifi’s involvement in the discussions concerning the broadcasting deal was compatible with his separate responsibilities at beIN Media Group.
The development adds to scrutiny surrounding the increasingly intertwined relationship between football clubs, governing bodies and broadcasters, particularly as lucrative media-rights agreements remain a major source of revenue for professional football.
At this stage, the investigation concerns allegations and does not by itself establish wrongdoing by al-Khelaifi.