By : Lloyd Mahachi
The extortion case against Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup winner Paul Pogba, has concluded with a guilty verdict. Mathias Pogba was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in attempting to extort 13 million euros ($13.6 million) from his brother.
The case began in 2022, when Mathias Pogba and five other men were accused of attempting to extort money from Paul Pogba. The defendants, who included childhood friends of Paul Pogba, claimed that he should have supported them after becoming an international soccer star. They were accused of extortion, abduction, and confinement to facilitate a crime, as well as criminal conspiracy.
The court found that Paul Pogba had suffered significant economic and moral losses as a result of the extortion attempts. He was held up at gunpoint by hooded men in March 2022 and was forced to pay 100,000 euros ($104,000) to the organized group, which included his brother. The court ordered the defendants, except for Mathias Pogba, to jointly pay 247,000 euros ($256,000) to Paul Pogba in compensation for his losses.
The mastermind behind the blackmail, Roushdane K., was sentenced to eight years in prison. The other defendants also received jail terms, ranging from a few years to several years. Mathias Pogba’s lawyer has said that he will appeal the ruling, claiming that his client was manipulated and forced to participate in the extortion attempts.
The case became public after Mathias Pogba posted threats on social media to share “explosive” revelations about his brother, fellow French star Kylian Mbappé, and Paul Pogba’s agent Rafaela Pimenta. Mathias Pogba, a former soccer player himself, had spent most of his career playing for lower-tier teams in Europe. His actions have caused a significant stir in the soccer world, with many questioning his motives and loyalty to his brother.
Paul Pogba, once one of the world’s top midfielders, has been making headlines in recent years more for his off-field problems than his sporting ability. Earlier this month, Juventus canceled his contract despite his doping ban being reduced last month. Pogba will be free to resume his career in March. The extortion case has added another layer of complexity to his already tumultuous career, and it remains to be seen how he will bounce back from this latest setback.
The case has also raised questions about the safety and security of high-profile athletes like Paul Pogba. The fact that he was targeted by his own brother and childhood friends has sparked concerns about the vulnerability of athletes to extortion and blackmail. As the soccer world continues to grapple with the implications of this case, one thing is clear: the safety and security of athletes must be taken seriously to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Editor : Josephine Mahachi
