PSG President accused of kidnapping and torturing plot in Qatar

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Mar 15:22

PSG president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, is reportedly under investigation for the alleged kidnap and torture of lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane in Qatar.

Paris Saint-Germain chairman and CEO Nasser Al-Khelaifi during the Paris St Germain and AccorHotels Press Conference - Parc Des Princes, Paris, France - February 22, 2019 (Reuters)

The PSG football club's president is currently being investigated over the kidnapping and torturing of Franco-Algerian lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane in Qatar, according to reports, with the allegations sparked by documents containing "sensitive information" about the 2022 World Cup's business aspects.

Benabderrahmane was detained in Qatar in January 2020, tortured, and then held under house arrest for a period of six months. He was released in November 2020 after he was forced to sign a non-disclosure agreement related to "sensitive documents".

These documents are said to include the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar in addition to television rights to the 2026 and 2030 editions of the tournament to a Qatari media outlet. This media outlet is headed by Al-Khelaifi who was accused of making this arrangement with former FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke.

"We are very happy that the real file of this story is finally investigated by the French justice," Mr. Benabderrahmane's lawyers, Maitres Romain Ruiz and Gabriel Vejnar said.

"You are talking about professional criminals. They’ve changed their lawyers more times than they’ve changed their stories and their lies.", Al-Khalaifi said while responding to the allegations against him.

"It is the ultimate media manipulation. 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," Paris Saint Germain's president added.