Judge appointed to investigate PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi after former employee’s legal complaint | OneFootball

A French judge has been appointed to lead an investigation into Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi over allegations of undeclared work, following a legal complaint filed by his former right-hand man Hicham Karmoussi, the Paris public prosecutor’s office confirmed on Friday to Agence France Presse.

The judicial investigation was opened on April 18 after Karmoussi filed a civil party complaint — a legal step in French law that triggers the appointment of an investigating magistrate. The move marks a significant escalation from a preliminary investigation launched in 2023 following Karmoussi’s initial complaint.

Karmoussi, a former professional tennis player, claims to have worked full-time for Al-Khelaïfi from 2011, coinciding with the Qatari executive’s arrival at the helm of PSG. The Moroccan national alleges he did so without a formal employment contract, living on-site and performing a wide range of personal duties for the PSG president. According to his legal complaint, working and living conditions deteriorated from 2015 onwards.

In a statement shared by his legal counsel Me Antoine Ory, Karmoussi welcomed the judge’s appointment as “an important milestone he has long awaited.”

The investigation will examine possible charges of undeclared work, as well as harassment and exploitation of a vulnerable person, the latter of which was flagged during the preliminary probe.

Al-Khelaïfi’s camp, in response, has dismissed the allegations. “We’ve sadly become accustomed to wild and baseless defamation campaigns in recent years, which we will not dignify with media responses,” a spokesperson for the PSG president told Le Monde. “We place our trust in the rule of law and the justice system and will continue to pursue all legal actions, often as a victim, with full confidence and composure.”

The case is further complicated by other ongoing legal matters involving Karmoussi. In July 2024, he was indicted and placed under judicial supervision as part of a separate investigation into alleged spying operations involving former PSG security staff, a lobbyist, and members of the French police. He is also currently facing defamation proceedings filed by Al-Khelaïfi.GFFN | Freddie Aston