Mathias Pogba: Paul Pogba’s Brother Sentenced to Three Years in Extortion Case

The older brother of Paul Pogba, former Manchester United midfielder, has been sentenced to a three-year jail term, with two years suspended, after being convicted of attempting to extort the French footballer. Mathias Pogba, who was also fined €20,000 (£16,500), will avoid serving time behind bars and will instead be required to wear an electronic bracelet for one year.

In a related case, five other co-defendants were found guilty of charges including extortion and faced varying sentences in a Paris court on Thursday. Their prison terms range from four to eight years. Among them, Roushdane K received the longest sentence of eight years, while Boubacar C was sentenced to four years, two of which are suspended. Adama C and Mamadou M each received five-year sentences, with Mamadou also having a year suspended. Finally, Machikour K was sentenced to four years with three years suspended.

The events leading to these convictions date back to an alarming incident in 2022, where Paul Pogba claimed he was held at gunpoint by childhood friends who demanded a staggering €13 million (£10.8 million) from him. Despite the threatening circumstances, Pogba managed to escape the situation but was compelled to pay them €100,000 (£82,600) in a desperate attempt to resolve the issue. This deeply unsettling experience impacted him profoundly, leading him to publicly express earlier that he had contemplated retiring from football due to the trauma.

In a poignant interview with Al Jazeera last year, Pogba articulated the heavy toll that the interplay of wealth and relationships can take on individuals and families. “When there is money you have to be careful,” he stated. “Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war.” His reflections resonate with the realities many face in high-pressure environments, especially where significant financial stakes are involved.

Mathias Pogba’s defense attorney, Mbeko Tabula, voiced dissatisfaction with the imposed sentence, deeming it “extremely harsh” and indicated plans to appeal the decision. This case highlights the complicated dynamics within families when intertwined with financial motives, revealing how trust and relationships can be tested under extreme circumstances as seen in the Pogba family’s turbulent ordeal.