Paul Pogba’s brother charged with alleged extortion plot against Juventus midfielder

Mathias' Lawyers have said they will appeal the decision

Paul Pogba's brother, Mathias, has been charged and detained over an alleged plot to extort money from the Juventus midfielder. It follows after the 32-year-old handed himself into police on Wednesday (September 14)  and was taken into custody. Four others have also been placed under formal investigation for extortion and criminal offences, judicial sources told news agencies Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Mathias' lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, has said that his client is innocent.  "We are going to challenge this decision," he told French broadcasters BFMTV. The former Football League defender admitted he was responsible for a video that appeared on social media last month. During the video, Mathias promised to reveal "great revelations" about his sibling, which would change people's perceptions of him. "The French, English, Italian and Spanish public, as well as my brother's fans — and even more so the French team and Juventus, my brother's teammates and his sponsors — deserve to know certain things.

"In order to make an informed decision if he deserves the admiration, respect and love of the public.

"Whether he deserves his place in the French team and the honour of playing in the World Cup. If he deserves to be a starter at Juventus.

"If he is a trustworthy person, that any player would want to have at his side."

https://twitter.com/LeMathiasPogba/status/1563601642615779328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1563601642615779328%7Ctwgr%5Efa076a18625b7f3d10bf716ff1461bed369c6dbc%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joe.co.uk%2Fsport%2Fmathias-pogba-taken-into-custody-in-conncecti-358911 Prosecutors in Paris opened a judicial investigation last month after the former Manchester United midfielder claimed he was the target of extortion and threats from an organised gang. Paul filed a complaint with prosecutors in Turin, Italy, on July 16 of this year and told them that he was the victim of a €13m blackmail plot. The 29-year-old also added that he had paid £85,000 (€100,000) to the organised group, who are a number of childhood friends, in the spring. Another one of the allegations against the organised gang includes taking Paul to a flat in the Paris suburb of Lagny-sur-Marne in March. There, the gang members then reportedly accused Pogba of failing to help them out financially since his professional football career had started. Related links:

• Mathias Pogba taken into custody in connection with blackmail affair
• Paul Pogba paid £85,000 to extortionists who demanded £11m from him
• Paul Pogba releases statement after brother vows to share ‘explosive’ revelations about him