Paul Pogba’s brother sentenced to three years in extortion case

The older brother of former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has been sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, after pleading guilty to attempting to extort the French footballer.

Mathias Pogba, who was also fined €20,000 (£16,500), will avoid time behind bars and instead serve a year wearing an electronic bracelet.

Five other men were found guilty of extortion and other crimes, and received sentences of between four and eight years in prison in a Paris court on Thursday.

Paul Pogba, 31, said he was “betrayed by childhood friends” who held him at gunpoint and demanded €13m (£10.8m) in 2022. He said he paid him €100,000 (£82,600).

Mathias Pogba’s lawyer Mbeko Tabula told RMC Sport that the punishment was “extremely harsh” and said “I think we will appeal”.

The other five defendants were given the following sentences: Rushden K to eight years, Boubacar C to four years, two suspended, Adama C to five years, Mamadou M to five years, 12 months suspended, and Machikor K to four years, three suspended. has been suspended.

Last year, Paul Pogba told Al Jazeera that he had Considered retiring from football due to extortion attempt,

“You have to be careful when there’s money,” he said. “Money changes people. It can tear a family apart. It can cause war.”