Paris Prosecutors Probe PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi Over Conflict-of-Interest Suspicions
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser al-Khelaifi is under investigation in France regarding suspected conflicts of interest linked to domestic broadcasting rights, French prosecutors confirmed on Sunday.
The preliminary probe, initially launched in April following a tip-off from anti-graft group Anticor, has been assigned to France’s anti-corruption and financial police units. The investigation focuses on al-Khelaifi’s dual responsibilities as president of Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain and chairman of Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Media Group.
According to reports initially published by French sports outlet L’Équipe, investigators are scrutinizing a meeting held in July 2024 between French professional football league (LFP) representatives and broadcasting stakeholders. The discussions took place immediately after beIN Sports submitted a €100 million ($115 million) bid to air one Ligue 1 fixture per week, an offer later accepted by the league. Anticor alleges that al-Khelaifi participated in discussions evaluating beIN Sports’ bid while heading the network, and pushed other Ligue 1 club executives to endorse the deal.
Al-Khelaifi’s legal counsel, Renaud Semerdjian, rejected the claims, stating to AFP that the allegations are “without basis, neither legally nor factually,” and maintaining that his client has “always acted in an independent, impartial, and objective manner.”
Al-Khelaifi, who has presided over PSG since Qatar Sports Investments acquired the club in 2011, has previously navigated several legal proceedings. He was charged in February 2025 with complicity in abuse of power related to shareholder voting at a firm, while prior corruption charges concerning Qatar’s World Athletics Championships bids were formally annulled in February 2023 by France’s Court of Cassation over jurisdictional limits.
