The brother of Paul Pogba, Mathias, has been released from prison after being detained in September for an alleged extortion scheme against his brother, the former Manchester United midfielder. Mathias Pogba, 32, had been in custody since his arrest, with his initial request for release being denied in September. His lawyer, Me Yassine Bouzrou, confirmed his release to Le Parisien and BFMTV.
In addition to Mathias, four other individuals were also under formal investigation for extortion and criminal association. The gang allegedly threatened Paul Pogba since March, demanding £11m for ‘protection services’. Reports indicate that Paul paid £100,000 to the group to avoid further threats after initially being confronted by masked, armed men in a Paris apartment.
Despite the allegations, Mathias Pogba has maintained his innocence, with his lawyer emphasizing that he is ‘a complete stranger’ to any extortion attempt against his brother. As part of his release conditions, Mathias has been prohibited from contacting Paul and his mother, and is also restricted from leaving France or using social media.
