Six men linked to France midfielder Paul Pogba, including one of his brothers, went on trial in Paris yesterday accused of blackmail, attempted extortion of millions of euros and holding a player at gunpoint.
The case at the Paris criminal court has shocked the French football world – all the more so because the alleged perpetrators include three childhood friends and Pogba’s own brother Mathias.
Tuesday’s trial comes on top of professional woes for Pogba, whose career has struggled since France’s spectacular 2018 World Cup win when he scored against Croatia in the Moscow final.
He suffered through repeated injuries and patchy form that led to his 2022 departure from Manchester United, returning to Juventus where he remained in and out of treatment.
The Turin club this month cancelled his contract following his 18-month suspension until March 2025 for doping.
The six defendants in Paris are accused of attempting to squeeze 13 million euros ($13.5 million) out of Pogba.
