In a judicial investigation opened by the Paris, France prosecutor’s office in 2022, targeting PSG’s wrongdoings, in addition to accusations of tax evasion, the 11-time Ligue 1 champion team was also accused of “bribed” Lionel Messi to win the Golden Ball.

According to information published in two newspapers Le Monde and Mediapart, in 2020 and 2021, PSG actively lobbied to help Lionel Messi win the Golden Ball while playing for the Parisian club. Jean-Martial Ribes, PSG’s communications director, used money to strengthen his relationship with Pascal Ferre, Editor-in-Chief of France Football, the organizer of the Golden Ball award.

In addition to asking to delete the article stating that PSG President, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, received illegal commissions when signing midfielder Javier Pastore in 2011, Ribes also sent VIP tickets to watch the club’s matches and many more. other valuable gifts.

Not only that, PSG also covers all costs to go to the locations requested by Pascal Ferre. This includes two closed matches during the COVID-19 pandemic, PSG meeting Dortmund in the Champions League, and a business class flight to Qatar in 2021 at a cost of nearly 9,000 euros.

Messi introduces the 2021 Golden Ball at Parc des Princes. Photo: Getty Images

To confirm the allegations, two newspapers Le Monde and Mediapart also detailed text messages between Ribes and Al-Khelaifi about the lunch with Ferre, and emphasized that “lobbying must be done” to influence the results of the election. golden ball 2021.

In fact, Messi was honored at the end of November 2021 (also the 7th time he received the Golden Ball). Another PSG player, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, finished first in the Best Goalkeeper category (Lev Yashin).

A few days later, PSG held a grand welcome ceremony, with the Parc des Princes covered in yellow, for Messi to present the award in front of tens of thousands of spectators. Messi’s victory caused a lot of controversy because that year, Robert Lewandowski stood out more in both individual and collective achievements.

In the investigation targeting PSG, in December 2023, Ribes was indicted on seven charges, including “corruption” and “market manipulation”. Ferre left his position as Editor-in-Chief of France Football in January 2023 and took over the position of PSG’s own Communications Director. He denied the accusations and said he voted for Lewandowski in 2021.

As for France Football, Editorial Director Lionel Dangoumau affirmed that the Golden Ball cannot be bribed, because “there is the participation of hundreds of journalists (180 in 2021) from different countries to ensure fairness.” equal and independent”.