PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi implicated in kidnapping and torturing investigation

Three investigating judges in Paris were appointed on Monday to examine accusations of kidnapping and torture against Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi made by Franco-Algerian lobbyist Tayeb Benabderrahmane. Benabderrahmane filed a complaint several months ago stating that he had been tortured in Qatar in 2020 for being in possession of documents containing compromising information on Al-Khelaifi.

Judicial investigation to be carried out on alleged kidnapping and torture

As reported by various French media outlets, including L’Équipe, Benabderrahmane filed a complaint with civil action, for which French law allows a judicial investigation to conducted with regard to the alleged crimes. His laywers, Maïtres Romain Ruiz and Gabriel Vejnar, claimed to be “very satisfied” with the news after spending months attempting to bring the case to the attention of the French justice, who they had criticised for their slowness and lack of action.

It is believed that the information possessed by Benabderrahmane could be stored on a mobile phone belonging to Al-Khelaïfi, which may implicate the PSG president in some form of wrongdoing related to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar or even the awarding of television rights for the Middle East for the 2026 and 2030 World Cups to BeIN Media. The Qatari has, in fact, already been investigated - and acquitted - in relation to this matter as a result of his relationship with Jerôme Vackle, formerly of FIFA. Both were suspected of having negotiated the rights behind FIFA’s back.