Mathias Pogba, brother of French footballer Paul Pogba, has been charged in an investigation into alleged extortion. He is suspected of participating in a criminal organization and extortion in a gang. An investigation is underway into him and four other suspects. Paul Pogba, midfielder at Ju-ventus, is said to have been extorted for 13 million euros.
The 32-year-old Mathias, also a professional football player and active for a short time as a player for Sparta Rotterdam, reported himself to the French police on Wednesday and was then arrested. His lawyer Yassine Bouzrou told television channel BFM TV that his client “has committed no offense” and that they will “challenge the decision”.
Earlier this month, a Paris prosecutor opened an investigation into the alleged extortion of Paul Pogba after he said he was being extorted for €13 million by criminals.
Mathias announced in a video message on the social medium TikTok at the end of August that he would come with “explosive revelations” about his brother and about footballer Kylian Mbappé. No such ‘disclosures’ have yet been made.
In France, in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup, at the end of this year in Qatar, supporters of the national team fear that the vicissitudes surrounding Pogba will affect the chances of Les Blues can harm. Not only is it uncertain whether Pogba, who is struggling with a meniscus injury, can play in Qatar. According to his brother, he is also involved in “witchcraft” and he would have cursed Mbappé, among others.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of September 19, 2022