Mohamed Sanhadji, French team security chief, charged with corruption
Mohamed Sanhadji, the security chief of the French national football team, has been charged with corruption and money laundering following a donation of €60,300 from Mbappé.
French team security chief charged
Mohamed Sanhadji, security and logistics chief for the French national team, has been charged and placed under judicial supervision, according to La Libre, citing L'Équipe. He had been held in police custody earlier in the week.
A former police officer, Sanhadji had been seconded to the French team since 2004 in the capacity of liaison officer and security chief. The proceedings follow an investigation opened in 2023 concerning a donation of €60,300 made by Kylian Mbappé. The player had stated he wanted to thank Sanhadji for his role during the 2022 World Cup.
Investigators, however, considered that this payment could have responded to motives other than simple thanks, justifying the opening of an investigation. According to Le Parisien, Sanhadji is now charged with "concealment of misappropriation of public funds, active corruption of a person holding public authority, active trafficking of influence over a person holding public authority, passive trafficking of influence by a person holding public authority, international passive trafficking of influence, passive corruption by a person holding public authority, fraud and money laundering of tax fraud".
As a consequence of these charges, Sanhadji will not be able to participate in upcoming French team gatherings. His judicial supervision prohibits him from any contact with the Blues staff, current and former players, as well as with all persons gravitating or having gravitated around the French Football Federation.
Source: La Libre