The highly anticipated blackmail trial involving French football star Paul Pogba commenced on Tuesday at the Paris criminal court.
The case has sent shockwaves through the French football community, primarily because the accused include three of Pogba's childhood friends and his own brother, Mathias Pogba. These six men are charged with blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros, and holding Pogba at gunpoint.
The allegations stem from an incident in March 2022, when Pogba claimed he was "tricked by childhood friends" from his hometown in a gritty Paris suburb.
He recounted being abducted and held at gunpoint by two hooded men wielding assault rifles, who demanded €13 million for "services rendered," accusing him of failing to support them financially since achieving professional success. Despite their demands, Pogba stated that he had only paid them €100,000.
The trial adds to Pogba's recent professional challenges. Since France's triumphant 2018 World Cup victory, where he scored in the final against Croatia, Pogba has faced numerous injuries.
These setbacks led to his departure from Manchester United in 2022 and a return to Juventus, where he struggled with fitness issues. Compounding his troubles, Juventus recently terminated his contract following a doping suspension effective until March 2025.
Mathias Pogba brought the case into the public eye by releasing a video on social media in August 2022, promising explosive revelations about his brother. In subsequent videos, Mathias accused Paul of casting an evil spell on fellow French teammate Kylian Mbappe.
Paul Pogba's legal team, including his lawyer Pierre-Jean Douvier and agent Rafaela Pimenta, responded by highlighting the threats and extortion attempts accompanying these videos. Pogba had already filed criminal complaints in both Italy and France in July 2022.
The accused have denied the allegations, claiming they were also victims of the unidentified hooded men. Five of the defendants face charges of extortion, kidnapping, and forming a criminal gang.
Mathias Pogba, although not present during the abduction, is suspected of pressuring his brother and family to ensure the payment of the demanded sum and is charged with attempted extortion. His lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, has refrained from commenting until the trial concludes.
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