Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, President of Paris Saint-Germain for over 10 years, has been the subject of several court cases in recent years. He has also been involved in other functions. This Thursday, AFP reports that the executive has been placed under investigation in the “Lagardère affair”, when Arnaud Lagardère allegedly tried in 2019 to change a key vote in his favor from the emirate’s souvenir fund QIA, which was the group’s majority shareholder, during a quarrel over the group’s governance.
“When contacted, a judicial source reportedly confirmed to AFP this indictment for complicity in vote-buying and undermining the freedom to vote, as well as complicity in abuse of power. The courts are wondering whether Al-Khelaïfi used his influence to get the Emirate’s sovereign wealth fund, QIA, to change its position in 2018.”
Al-Khelaïfi “I’d like the situation to be clearer, especially in light of QIA’s response.””
Serious accusations denied by Al-Khelaïfi before investigators last Wednesday, again according to AFP.
“I’m surprised to be here today. I had no influence whatsoever in this affair. I find myself in the middle of an affair in which I have no connection, all based on a single telephone communication concerning a problem with Qatar, a question I had to pass on, and my role was limited to that. The parties quote: ‘Nasser here, Nasser there’. To defend themselves, they quote my name. I’d like the situation to be clearer, especially in view of QIA’s response.””
As always with a judicial case, we’re cautious until it’s over. There’s only a suspicion here, and we don’t know how well-founded it is. According to Al-Khelaïfi, he is here for almost nothing. At least, not what he’s accused of.
Of course, the accumulation of affairs over the years is a burden, even if he has always been cleared up to now. Let the law do its job. At the very least, PSG is not directly involved and can continue to move forward calmly on its own.
