The president of Paris Saint-Germain football club, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is facing an investigation in France over allegations of kidnapping and torture. The case relates to a complaint made by Franco-Algerian lobbyist, Tayeb Benabderrahmane, who claims he was detained in Qatar for six months in 2020 because he possessed "sensitive" documents, including a smartphone belonging to Mr Al-Khelaifi, and compromising materials.
It is alleged that Mr Benabderrahmane had documents relating to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, as well as the awarding of the 2026 and 2030 World Cup TV rights to beIN Media, of which Mr Al-Khelaifi is president. The lobbyist claims he obtained the materials from Mr Al-Khelaifi's butler.
According to French newspaper L'Équipe, Mr Al-Khelaifi is accused of being the "sponsor" of the kidnapping and torture of Mr Benabderrahmane. The latter claims he was only allowed to leave Qatar in November 2020 after signing a confidentiality agreement. In response, Mr Al-Khelaifi has denied all allegations, with his legal team stating that the lobbyist has attached false allegations of corruption to a simple case of blackmail regarding a sex tape obtained of him.
"This is the ultimate media manipulation. You are talking about professional criminals. They've changed their lawyers more times than they've changed their stories and their lies," said Mr Al-Khelaifi in a statement.
"I'm just amazed so many people have taken their lies and contradictions as credible – but that's the media world we're in today. Justice will run its course – I don't have time to talk about petty professional criminals."
The report of impending investigation involving President Nasser Al-Khelaifi comes less than 24 hours after Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi was said to be under police investigation for an alleged rape. The legal representatives of the Moroccan international came out on Tuesday to deny the allegations, stating that the player did not do anything wrong, and "is at the disposal of justice."
