Paul Pogba’s brother sentenced to three years in prison in extortion case
The older brother of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been sentenced to three years in prison and two years suspended for attempting to blackmail the French footballer.
Mathias Pogba, who was also fined €20,000 (£16,500), will avoid a prison sentence and instead serve a year with an electronic bracelet.
Five other men were found guilty of extortion and other crimes by a Paris court on Thursday and sentenced to between four and eight years in prison.
Paul Pogba, 31, said he was “tricked” by childhood friends who held him at gunpoint in 2022 and demanded 13 million euros (10.8 million pounds). He said he paid them €100,000 (£82,600).
Mathias Pogba’s lawyer Mbeko Tabula told RMC Sport the sentence was “extremely harsh” and said: “I think we will appeal.”
The other five defendants were given the following sentences: Roushdane K. received eight years, Boubacar C. four years, two of which were suspended, Adama C. five years, Mamadou M. five years, 12 months suspended and Machikour K. four years, of which three suspended sentences.
Last year, Paul Pogba told Al Jazeera that he had Because of the blackmail attempt, he considered retiring from football.
“When there is money, you have to be careful,” he said. “Money changes people. It can destroy a family. It can start a war.”
