Paul Pogba’s Brother Sentenced in Extortion Case

Mathias Pogba, the older brother of French footballer Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, after being convicted of attempting to extort the former Manchester United midfielder.

The Paris court ruled on Thursday that Mathias Pogba, 33, will avoid time behind bars and instead serve a year under electronic monitoring. He was also fined €20,000 (£16,500).

The case stemmed from a shocking 2022 incident in which Paul Pogba alleged he had been held at gunpoint by childhood friends, who demanded €13 million (£10.8 million). Pogba stated that he paid €100,000 (£82,600) under duress.

Five other individuals involved in the extortion plot received prison sentences ranging from four to eight years. Among them, Roushdane K was handed the longest sentence of eight years, while the others—Boubacar C, Adama C, Mamadou M, and Machikour K—received varying combinations of prison terms and suspended sentences.

Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, criticized the verdict as “extremely harsh” and announced plans to appeal.

The sentencing marks the conclusion of a high-profile case that exposed deep personal and legal turmoil for Paul Pogba, who is currently playing for Juventus. The football star has described the ordeal as a betrayal by trusted friends and family.