Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG) club president Nasser al‑Khelaifi is being investigated by French prosecutors in Paris, the authorities confirmed on Sunday. The probe concerns a possible conflict of interest arising from al‑Khelaifi’s simultaneous leadership of the Champions League‑winning club and the beIN Media Group, which owns the sports broadcaster beIN Sports.
The investigation was launched after a tip‑off from the anti‑graft organization Anticor. French anti‑corruption and finance police have been tasked with the proceedings, focusing on whether al‑Khelaifi took part in discussions that validated beIN Sports’ bid for broadcasting rights while he also served as chairman of the media group.
According to L’Équipe, the inquiry also examines a meeting held in July 2024 between beIN Sports representatives and officials of the French football league. The meeting took place the day after beIN Sports submitted a €100 million offer to broadcast one Ligue 1 fixture each week, an offer that was later accepted by the league.
Anticor alleges that al‑Khelaifi’s involvement in the validation of the beIN Sports bid created a conflict of interest, given his dual stewardship of both the football club and the media company that sought the broadcasting contract.
PSG, the current holders of the UEFA Champions League title, and beIN Media Group are both prominent players in European football and sports broadcasting, making the allegations a matter of significant public interest in France.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
