Mathias Pogba Sentenced for Extorting Brother Paul Pogba

In a notable case involving family ties and sports ethics, Mathias Pogba has been convicted and sentenced in an extortion plot targeting his renowned brother, Paul Pogba.

Mathias Pogba, the elder sibling of former Manchester United star Paul Pogba, has been handed a three-year sentence, with two years suspended, for his role in an extortion scheme directed at the footballer. On Thursday, a Paris court found Mathias guilty of attempting to extort €13 million (£10.8 million) from his brother, which was executed along with a group of five other accomplices. While Mathias faces the option of serving one year under electronic surveillance, he has also been fined €20,000 (£16,500).

The case initiated when Paul Pogba claimed he was threatened by childhood friends who held him at gunpoint, demanding the exorbitant sum. The footballer testified that he had paid them €100,000 (£82,600) in an effort to appease the aggressive demands.

Mathias Pogba's defense attorney, Mbeko Tabula, expressed disappointment with the court's ruling, labeling it “extremely harsh” and indicating plans to appeal the decision. The sentences for the other five defendants in the case were substantial; they ranged from four to eight years in prison, with varying terms of suspension.

Previously, Paul Pogba revealed that the extortion ordeal led him to even contemplate retiring from professional football. He articulated the detrimental impact of money on personal relationships, stating, "Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war."