The brother of World Cup champion Paul Pogba, Mathias Pogba, will stand trial alongside five other men in a high-profile extortion case. The Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday that a judge had ordered the six men to face trial following an investigation into allegations that Pogba was targeted by his brother and childhood friends.
The prosecutor’s office stated that Mathias Pogba, 34, will face charges of attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy. The trial date is yet to be announced. The five other individuals, identified only by their first names, are accused of demanding 13 million euros ($14.3 million) from the French midfielder, resorting to intimidation tactics and claiming he failed to support them after achieving global fame. These men are facing charges of extortion, attempted extortion involving violence, abduction, and confinement to facilitate a crime, along with criminal conspiracy.
During the investigation, Pogba revealed that he paid 100,000 euros to the alleged extortionist group, which included his brother. French media reports also suggest that Pogba informed investigators that the extortionists aimed to tarnish his reputation by falsely claiming he asked a witch doctor to cast a spell on his French teammate, Kylian Mbappe. Pogba vehemently denied this allegation.
The case erupted into public view after Mathias Pogba made threats on social media, vowing to release “explosive” revelations about his brother, Paul’s agent Rafaela Pimenta, and Mbappé. Mathias Pogba, himself a former footballer, spent most of his career playing for lower-tier teams across Europe.
Once considered one of the world’s top midfielders, Pogba has been making headlines more frequently for off-field troubles than for his on-field brilliance in recent years. Earlier this year, he was handed a four-year ban by Italy’s anti-doping court after testing positive for testosterone while playing for Juventus. Pogba has appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is based in Switzerland.
Pogba was known for his versatility, physical strength, and ability to score goals. When he returned to Manchester United in 2016, the club paid Juventus a then world-record transfer fee of 105 million euros. Pogba rejoined Juventus in 2022 but struggled with injuries. He was sidelined during France’s run to the 2022 World Cup final due to a knee injury. Pogba played a key role in France’s 2018 World Cup victory, scoring in the 4-2 final win against Croatia.
This trial promises to shed light on a dark chapter in the life of one of football’s most talented but troubled stars. The outcome could have significant implications for Pogba’s career and reputation.
