PSG: Nasser Al-Khelaïfi targeted by a preliminary investigation

The president of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, is now the subject of a preliminary investigation in Paris for "illegal taking of interest." The investigation concerns his role in the awarding of Ligue 1 television rights for 2024.

A new legal development has emerged concerning Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. According to information obtained by L'Équipe, the Paris prosecutor's office has opened a preliminary investigation targeting the Qatari executive, following a report filed last March by the anti-corruption association Anticor. The investigation has been entrusted to the Financial Anti-Corruption Brigade (BFAC).

At the heart of the matter are the negotiations on the audiovisual rights of Ligue 1 in the summer of 2024. At that time, Al-Khelaïfi held several responsibilities: president of PSG, president of beIN Media Group and member of the board of directors of the Professional Football League (LFP).

Anticor therefore suspects the manager of having been able to use these different functions to influence discussions within the LFP and to favour beIN Sports, of which he is chairman, during the allocation of the championship rights.

A decision at the heart of the questions

In 2024, several scenarios were being considered for broadcasting Ligue 1. These included the creation of a channel by the LFP (French Professional Football League) or reaching an agreement with broadcasters. The solution ultimately chosen was based on a sharing of rights between DAZN and beIN Sports.

The debates within the LFP's board of directors had given rise to particularly tense exchanges. One meeting, excerpts of which were subsequently made public, notably pitted Al-Khelaïfi against John Textor, then owner of Olympique Lyonnais. The latter accused the Qatari executive of trying to convince the other club presidents to support beIN's bid.

The opening of this investigation does not, however, mean that Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is guilty of the acts he is accused of. It is intended to allow investigators to verify the elements that led to the report and to determine whether any offenses were actually committed.

For his part, the entourage of the PSG president disputes the accusations. Contacted by L'Équipe, he continues to describe Anticor's report as "absurd".

The investigations of the Financial Anti-Corruption Brigade will now have to establish the exact circumstances in which the decisions concerning the TV rights of Ligue 1 were taken in 2024.