Paul Pogba’s Brother Receives Suspended Sentence in High-Profile Extortion Case

Mathias Pogba, brother of renowned footballer Paul Pogba, has been sentenced to three years in prison with two years suspended after being found guilty of attempting to extort his younger brother.

In a shocking turn of events, Mathias Pogba, the elder sibling of the former Manchester United star, was sentenced by a Paris court to three years in prison, with two of those years suspended, due to his involvement in a scheme to extort his brother. He will not serve time behind bars but will instead wear an electronic tracking device for one year and pay a fine of €20,000 (£16,500).

The court found Mathias and five co-defendants guilty of various extortion-related charges, with sentences ranging from four to eight years. Paul Pogba, now 31, publicly alleged last year that he had been manipulated by childhood friends, who threatened him with a gun in 2022 and demanded a staggering €13 million (£10.8 million). Ultimately, he paid €100,000 (£82,600) to them as part of the ordeal.

Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Mbeko Tabula, criticized the harshness of the sentence, indicating plans to file an appeal. Meanwhile, the other defendants received sentences including Roushdane K's eight years, and several others ranging from four to five years, with varying conditions of suspension.

Reflecting on the traumatic experience last year, Paul Pogba revealed that the extortion attempt made him consider leaving football altogether, stating, "When there is money, you have to be careful. Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war." The ramifications of this case continue to ripple through the football community and raise questions about the dark side of fame and fortune.