Rabat – Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) President Nasser Al-Khelaifi is under investigation for the alleged kidnapping and torture of French-Algerian businessman Tayeb Benabderrahmane in his homeland Qatar, French news outlet Lequipe reported.
While Al-Khelaifi avidly denied any involvement in the matter, the Paris court appointed on Monday three judges to investigate the allegation.
Benabderrahmane has claimed that he was the victim of “kidnapping, confinement, and torture” over a six-month period for possessing sensitive documents relating to Al-Khelaifi.
The French source described 42-year-old Benabderrahmane as “a French-Algerian lobbyist who notably targets the boss of PSG Nasser al-Khelaifi.”
The businessman’s lawyers Romain Ruiz and Gabriel Vejnar expressed their satisfaction at the case opening: “We are very pleased that the real file of this story is finally investigated by the French justice,” as France Press Agency (AFP) quoted.
According to Benabderrahmane’s complaint, filed by his lawyers, he was imprisoned in January 2020 in Qatar, where he endured immense torture. The French-Algerian businessman claimed that he was later placed under house arrest before being allowed to leave the country in November 2020.
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Benabderrahmane claims that he was allowed to leave only after he signed a confidentiality agreement, pledging to not release “sensitive” documents on Al-Khelaifi.
The documents are reportedly related to the awarding of the 2022 World Cup hosting rights to Qatar, as well as the Qatar-based sports broadcaster BeIN Sports being given exclusive broadcasting rights of the 2026 and 2030 World Cups, media outlet Goal reported.
Denying any involvement in the case, PSG’s president said that he was “amazed so many people have taken their lies and contradictions as credible.” He stressed, “It is the ultimate media manipulation,” according to Goal.
The ongoing controversy is the second to hit the French club in a matter of days, as the Moroccan football player and PSG star Achraf Hakimi has been allegedly involved in a rape case.
