PSG president Al-Khelaifi under investigation in France over Ligue 1 broadcasting conflict of interest

Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and chairman of beIN Media Group, is under investigation in France over a suspected illegal conflict of interest relating to Ligue 1 broadcasting rights, according to reports.

The preliminary probe centres on a meeting held in July 2024 between Al-Khelaifi and representatives of the French football league — a meeting that took place just one day after beIN Media Group submitted a €100 million offer to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week. The league subsequently accepted that offer. The most recent investigation was launched in April, following a tip from French anti-corruption organisation Anticor, with proceedings also passed to anti-corruption and finance police.

A source close to the case, cited by RFI, claims Anticor alleges that Al-Khelaifi participated in discussions validating beIN Sports’ bid despite simultaneously serving as the company’s chairman — a position that, according to the source, created a direct conflict of interest. The source further alleges that Al-Khelaifi applied pressure on other Ligue 1 club presidents to back the beIN Sports proposal.

Al-Khelaifi’s lawyer, Renaud Semerdjian, has firmly rejected the allegations. “The allegations made against Mr Nasser Al-Khelaifi are without basis, neither legally nor factually,” Semerdjian told AFP, adding that his client had “always acted in an independent, impartial and objective manner.”

The 52-year-old has faced legal scrutiny before. Last February he was charged with complicity in abuse of power over shareholder voting at a company. He had also previously faced corruption charges relating to Qatari bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, though those charges were ultimately annulled by France’s Court of Cassation in February 2023 on jurisdictional grounds.

Al-Khelaifi has presided over PSG since Qatar Sports Investments’ takeover of the club in 2011. He has recently ruled out standing as a candidate to succeed Gianni Infantino as FIFA president at next year’s election.