A Paris court has delivered its verdict in the high-profile extortion case involving former Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, sentencing his brother Mathias and five others to prison terms ranging from three to eight years. The case stems from a March 2022 incident where Paul Pogba was allegedly held at gunpoint by childhood friends demanding €13 million.
Mathias Pogba received a three-year sentence, with two years suspended, for his role in the “organized extortion” and “attempted extortion” of his brother. He will serve his one-year term under house arrest with electronic monitoring. The court also imposed a €20,000 fine on Mathias.
The mastermind of the plot, identified as Roushdane K., received the harshest sentence of eight years in prison. The other defendants were handed sentences between four and five years, with varying portions suspended.
The court awarded Paul Pogba €197,000 in economic damages and €50,000 for moral damages, to be paid by the convicted parties. Notably, the kidnapping charge was not upheld due to insufficient evidence.
This verdict marks a dramatic turn in a case that has shocked the football world, revealing the dark side of fame and fortune. Paul Pogba, currently serving a doping ban, had previously described the ordeal as a betrayal by those closest to him, including childhood friends and his own brother.
The defendants’ lawyers have announced their intention to appeal, arguing that the sentences are overly severe.
