PSG chief Nasser Al-Khelaifi 'under investigation' over broadcasting conflict

Nasser Al-Khelaifi is reportedly under investigation in France due to a suspected illegal conflict of interest with regards to broadcasting rights. The Qatari mogul is the president of Paris Saint-Germain, but also holds stewardship with the beIN Media Group.

A preliminary probe is linked with both positions, and involves a meeting regarding broadcasting rights with the French football league's representatives from July 2024. The meeting came a day after beIN made a €100million offer for the rights to broadcast one Ligue 1 match per week.

The league later accepted the offer. The most recent investigation into Al-Khelaifi was launched back in April off the back of a tip from Anticor. Proceedings have also been passed on to anti-corruption and finance police.

As per RFI, a source close to the case says that Anticor claim Al-Khelaifi took part in discussions regarding the validation of the bid from beIN Sports. That's despite serving as the chairman of beIN Media Group, which is claimed to have created a conflict of interest.

The source also alleges that Al-Khelaifi put pressure on other Ligue 1 club presidents to support the proposal from beIN Sports. However, Renaud Semerdjian - who serves as Al-Khelaifi's lawyer - has rejected such claims.

He told AFP: "The allegations made against Mr Nasser Al-Khelaifi are without basis, neither legally nor factually," while adding that the PSG president had "always acted in an independent, impartial and objective manner."

Al-Khelaifi has held his position with PSG since a 2011 takeover of the club spearheaded by Qatar Sports Investments. However, he has seen a number of legal challenges in the years since.

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Last February, the 52-year-old was charged with complicity in abuse of power concerning shareholder voting with a company. Meanwhile, Al-Khelaifi has also seen previous charges for alleged corruption over Qatari bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships.

These were ultimately annulled by France's Court of Cassation in February 2023, given the country's judicial system did not have a right to prosecute.

It comes as Al-Khelaifi ruled out any chance of him running to succeed Gianni Infantino as FIFA president when next year's election lands.

The 56-year-old has seen calls for his job following a controversial World Cup in North America, on top of failed proposals to sell stakes in the tournament to private investors under a scheme he revealed as the FIFA Forward Enterprise.

However, Al-Khelaifi said in August that he has no intentions of tossing his name in the hat for Infantino's position with World Football when the elections land in March.

He explained at the time: "I am very happy being president of Paris Saint-Germain, and happy to continue in this position."