France and Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has asked French prosecutors to investigate his elder brother, Mathias over an alleged plot to extort money from him.
Mathias has been charged and detained by French authorities upon the complaint from the footballer against his brother and other accomplices.
REUTERS reports that four other people have also been placed under formal investigation for extortion and criminal association.
The paper claimed judicial sources said Mathias Pogba’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, said his client was innocent.
Bouzrou told French broadcaster BFMTV: “We are going to challenge this decision.”
Mathias Pogba, 32, has admitted he was behind a video that appeared online last month promising “revelations” about the 29-year-old Juventus midfielder.
French prosecutors opened a judicial investigation earlier this month after former Manchester United player Paul said he was the target of extortion and threats from an organised gang.
He filed a complaint with Turin prosecutors on 16 July claiming he was the target of a 13m euro (£11.29m) blackmail plot.
A World Cup winner with France in 2018, Pogba moved to Juventus on a free transfer this summer after leaving Manchester United.
Mathias Pogba is also a professional footballer who has been capped by Guinea and played for clubs across Europe including Crewe, Wrexham, Crawley and Partick Thistle.
