In brief
Mathias Pogba will serve one year under electronic surveillance after a Paris court's ruling, with his conviction illuminating the complexities of familial trust and financial greed.
Mathias Pogba, the elder brother of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, following a court ruling in which he was found guilty of attempting to extort his brother. In addition to the prison sentence, Mathias has been ordered to pay a fine of €20,000 (£16,500). However, he will serve only one year wearing an electronic bracelet, avoiding time in jail. The Paris court also convicted five co-defendants of extortion-related crimes, handing out sentences ranging from four to eight years. Paul Pogba, aged 31, previously reported that he had been "tricked by childhood friends," who had threatened him at gunpoint in 2022, demanding an outrageous €13 million (£10.8 million). He disclosed that he paid them €100,000 (£82,600) amid the threats.Mathias's lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, described the sentencing as "extremely harsh" and indicated an intention to appeal. The sentences for the other five implicated individuals are as follows: Roushdane K received eight years; Boubacar C was sentenced to four years with two suspended; Adama C was given five years; while Mamadou M received five years with twelve months suspended, and Machikour K four years with three years suspended. In a past interview with Al Jazeera, Paul Pogba admitted to considering retirement from football due to the psychological toll of the extortion attempt, acknowledging that money can alter relationships and provoke conflict within families.
