Mathias Pogba, the older brother of football star Paul Pogba, has received a three-year prison sentence for his role in a £11m (€13m) extortion plot targeting the former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder.
The Paris court imposed a sentence that includes:
- Two years suspended, allowing Mathias to serve only one year under electronic surveillance.
- Conviction for “extortion by an organized gang” in connection to a scheme that demanded money from Paul Pogba for alleged “protection services” spanning 13 years.
The extortion plot, which surfaced in late 2022, involved Mathias Pogba and a group of childhood friends pressuring Paul Pogba for financial payments. At the time, Paul publicly revealed the ordeal, sharing that the stress from the threats had led him to consider retiring from professional football.
The verdict brings some resolution for Paul, who is currently serving a reduced 18-month doping ban but is set to return to football in March 2025.
- The 31-year-old midfielder is without a club but remains optimistic about securing a new contract once he resumes his career.
- This ruling allows him to focus on rebuilding his life and career after the turmoil caused by the extortion scheme.
Mathias Pogba, a former professional footballer for Guinea, had previously made public claims about his brother, which were later debunked as part of the extortion attempt.