PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi, by way of his lawyer, denied the allegations. Photograph: AFP
PARIS:
Nasser al-Khelaifi, the Qatari president of French soccer membership Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), is beneath investigation in France on suspicion of an unlawful battle of curiosity, prosecutors in Paris stated on Sunday.
The preliminary probe is linked to his twin stewardship of the Champions League title holders and the beIN Media Group and entails a gathering on broadcasting rights with the French soccer league’s representatives in July 2024, the prosecutor’s workplace stated, confirming a report in L’Equipe sports activities newspaper.
The assembly was held the day after beIN Sports activities made a 100-million-euro ($115-million) supply for rights to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week. France’s skilled soccer league later accepted the beIN supply.
The most recent investigation into al-Khelaifi was launched in April after a tip-off from the anti-graft Anticor affiliation, with proceedings entrusted to the anti-corruption and finance police.
In accordance with a supply near the case, Anticor alleges that al-Khelaifi took half in discussions on the validation of beIN Sports activities’ bid regardless of additionally serving as chairman of beIN Media Group, making a battle of curiosity.
Anticor additionally alleges that al-Khelaifi exerted stress on different Ligue 1 membership presidents to assist the beIN Sports activities proposal, the supply stated.
Al-Khelaifi’s lawyer, Renaud Semerdjian, rejected the claims.
“The allegations made towards Mr Nasser al-Khelaifi are with out foundation, neither legally nor factually,” he instructed AFP.
The lawyer stated his consumer had “at all times acted in an unbiased, neutral and goal method”.
The PSG chief, who has led the French Ligue 1 champions since its 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports activities Investments with the dream of constructing the staff Europe’s finest, has confronted a number of authorized instances lately.
In February 2025, he was charged with complicity in abuse of energy regarding shareholder voting at an organization.
Earlier prices towards Al-Khelaifi for alleged corruption over Qatar’s bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships have been definitively annulled in mid-February 2023 by France’s Courtroom of Cassation, which dominated the French justice system didn’t have the appropriate to prosecute him.