CNN
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Mathias Pogba, the brother of French soccer champion Paul Pogba, has been temporarily detained by a Paris court on charges of extortion, his lawyer confirmed to CNN.
According to Mathias’ lawyer Yassine Bouzrou, Mathias Pogba, 32, has been in prison since Saturday night.
“We will appeal this decision and demand his release,” Bouzrou told CNN on Sunday.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office also confirmed to CNN on Sunday that Mathias Pogba was taken into provisional custody.
Paul Pogba, who plays for Italy’s Serie A club Juventus, filed a blackmail lawsuit against his brother last month in a statement obtained by CNN through his legal team.
Paul Pogba’s statement came after his brother posted a series of videos on Instagram in English, French, Spanish and Italian in which he claimed he was making “major disclosures” about the behavior of his brother and his agent Rafaela Pimenta.
Paul Pogba’s statement, signed by his lawyers, his mother Yeo Moriba and Pimenta, read: “Unfortunately, Mathias Pogba’s recent social media posts come as no surprise and follow other attempts over a longer period of time to blackmail Paul Pogba.
“The facts were reported to the Italian and French police a month ago and there will be no further comment on the ongoing investigation.”
Mathias had responded to earlier investigation reports in a statement in August series of tweets which began with, “What I’ve been waiting for has arrived: my little brother is finally showing his true colors.”
In the tweets, he denied the allegations against him.
In August, a spokesman for prosecutors told CNN that an investigation “into racketeering in an organized gang and attempted racketeering in an organized gang” had been opened that month.
Paul Pogba, 29, returned to the English Premier League for Juventus in July after six years at Manchester United. In 2018 he was a member of the French world champion team.
In August, Italian police confirmed to CNN that they were not investigating the allegations.