Paul Pogba's Brother and Five Others to Stand Trial in Extortion Case

Mathias Pogba, the brother of World Cup-winning soccer player Paul Pogba, is set to stand trial alongside five other men in connection with an extortion case targeting the Juventus midfielder, the Paris prosecutor's office announced Tuesday.

The decision comes after an investigation into allegations that Paul Pogba was subjected to an extortion attempt orchestrated by his brother and childhood acquaintances. A judge has ordered the six individuals to face trial, although the date for the proceedings has yet to be determined.

Mathias Pogba, 34, faces charges of "attempted extortion and criminal conspiracy," according to the prosecutor's office. The five others, identified by their first names only, are also facing charges of extortion and attempted extortion, as well as using violence, abduction, and unlawful confinement as part of the extortion plot.

The group allegedly demanded €13 million ($14.3 million) from Paul Pogba, accusing him of failing to support them after he rose to international prominence. Pogba revealed during the investigation that he had paid €100,000 to the group, which included his brother, in an effort to settle their demands.

According to French media, the 31-year-old soccer star also claimed that the extortionists had threatened to tarnish his reputation by accusing him of hiring a witch doctor to cast a spell on Kylian Mbappé, his teammate on the French national team. Pogba has categorically denied the allegations.

Mathias Pogba, a former professional soccer player who spent his career primarily with lower-division clubs across Europe, drew public attention when he posted threats on social media, vowing to release "explosive" information about his brother, Paul's agent Rafaela Pimenta, and Mbappé.

A lawyer for Mathias Pogba did not respond to requests for comment regarding the charges.

This case adds to a series of off-field controversies involving Paul Pogba in recent years. Once regarded as one of the world's top midfielders, Pogba has been in the news more frequently for his personal issues. Earlier this year, he received a four-year suspension from Italy's anti-doping authorities after testing positive for testosterone while playing for Juventus. Pogba has since filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.

Pogba, who is known for his versatility and athleticism on the field, returned to Juventus in 2022 following a six-year stint with Manchester United, which paid a then world-record transfer fee of €105 million to secure his return from Juventus in 2016. However, injuries have marred his recent career, and a knee injury forced him to miss France's 2022 World Cup campaign. Pogba had been instrumental in helping France win the 2018 World Cup, scoring in their 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final.

The court proceedings for the extortion case involving Pogba's brother and the five other accused individuals remain pending, with no further details on the timing.