Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup-winning soccer player Paul Pogba, is set to face trial alongside five other individuals in connection with an extortion case, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office on Tuesday. The case centers on allegations that the group attempted to extort money from the French midfielder two years ago.
Following an investigation, a judge has ordered Mathias Pogba and the five other men to stand trial. The charges relate to alleged extortion attempts targeting Paul Pogba by Mathias and a group of childhood acquaintances, the prosecutor's office confirmed.
Mathias Pogba, 34, faces charges of "attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy," while his co-defendants — identified only by their first names — are accused of extortion, attempted extortion, and using violence, abduction, and confinement to facilitate the crimes, as well as engaging in criminal conspiracy. The court date has yet to be set.
The group allegedly demanded 13 million euros ($14.3 million) from Paul Pogba, claiming he had failed to support them financially after rising to international fame. The soccer star reportedly told investigators that he paid 100,000 euros to the group, which included his brother, in an attempt to settle the matter.
In a further twist, Paul Pogba claimed the alleged extortionists threatened to damage his reputation by accusing him of hiring a witch doctor to curse his fellow French teammate, Kylian Mbappé. Pogba has categorically denied these accusations.
Mathias Pogba, a former professional soccer player himself, has spent much of his career playing for lower-division clubs across Europe. His lawyer has not commented on the case.
The case first came to light when Mathias Pogba posted online videos threatening to expose damaging information about his brother, as well as Paul’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and Kylian Mbappé.
In recent years, Paul Pogba has been in the news more for off-field controversies than his performances on the soccer pitch. Earlier this year, Italy's anti-doping court handed him a four-year ban after he tested positive for testosterone while playing for Juventus. Pogba has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Paul Pogba was once considered one of the top midfielders in the world, celebrated for his versatility and physical prowess. In 2016, Manchester United paid a then-record transfer fee of 105 million euros to bring him back from Juventus. Pogba returned to Juventus in 2022, but his time there has been plagued by injuries, including one that kept him out of France’s squad for the 2022 World Cup. However, he played a pivotal role in helping France secure the 2018 World Cup, scoring in the 4-2 final victory against Croatia.
