PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi under investigation in France for conflict of interest

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The Qatari president of French football club Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser al-Khelaifi, is under investigation in France on suspicion of an illegal conflict of interest, prosecutors in Paris said on Sunday.

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The preliminary probe is linked to his dual stewardship of the Champions League title holders and the beIN Media Group, and involves a meeting on broadcasting rights with the French football league’s representatives in July 2024, the prosecutor’s office said, confirming a report in L’Equipe sports newspaper.

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The meeting was held the day after beIN Sports made a €100 million ($115-million) offer for rights to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week. France’s professional football league later accepted the beIN offer.

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The latest investigation into al-Khelaifi was launched in April after a tip-off from the anti-graft Anticor association, with proceedings entrusted to the anti-corruption and finance police.

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According to a source close to the case, Anticor alleges that al-Khelaifi took part in discussions on the validation of beIN Sports’ bid despite also serving as chairman of beIN Media Group, creating a conflict of interest.

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Anticor also alleges that al-Khelaifi exerted pressure on other Ligue 1 club presidents to support the beIN Sports proposal, the source said.

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– Claims rejected –

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Al-Khelaifi’s lawyer, Renaud Semerdjian, rejected the claims.

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“The allegations made against Mr Nasser al-Khelaifi are without basis, neither legally nor factually,” he told AFP.

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The lawyer said his client had “always acted in an independent, impartial and objective manner.”

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The PSG chief, who has led the French Ligue 1 champions since its 2011 takeover by Qatar Sports Investments with the dream of making the team Europe’s best, has faced several legal cases in recent years.

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In February 2025, he was charged with complicity in abuse of power concerning shareholder voting at a company.

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Previous charges against Al-Khelaifi for alleged corruption over Qatar’s bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships were definitively annulled in mid-February 2023 by France’s Court of Cassation, which ruled the French justice system did not have the right to prosecute him.

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AFP

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