Paris prosecutors investigate PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi over Ligue 1 television rights deal

Investigation into TV rights negotiations

The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed on 20 September 2026 that Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi is under a preliminary investigation for suspected unlawful conflict of interest. The inquiry was initiated on 24 April 2026 following a formal report filed by the anti-graft organization Anticor. France's Brigade financière anti-corruption (BFAC) is handling the proceedings, which were first reported by French sports newspaper L'Equipe. The investigation focuses on Al-Khelaifi's dual role as president of the football club and chairman of Qatar-based broadcaster beIN Media Group during domestic television rights negotiations with the Ligue de Football Professionnel. Under French law, the launch of a preliminary inquiry does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing.

The July 2024 broadcast rights agreement

The probe centers on a videoconference meeting held in July 2024 to determine the allocation of Ligue 1 broadcast rights. The session took place one day after beIN Sports submitted a 100 million euro proposal to broadcast one French league fixture per week. Anticor alleges that Al-Khelaifi participated in discussions to validate that bid while chairing beIN Media Group, compromising his impartiality during a transaction he was expected to oversee. The anti-corruption group also alleges that Al-Khelaifi pressured other Ligue 1 club presidents to accept the proposal and implied involvement in originating the offer. Video recordings of the meeting broadcast by France 2 and L'Equipe showed tensions among club presidents. The league ultimately accepted the beIN bid alongside a 400 million euro deal with DAZN for eight weekly matches.

DAZN400

beIN Sports100

DAZN

400 million EUR

beIN Sports

100 million EUR

Data from the article text

Defense statements and governance claims

Al-Khelaifi and beIN Media Group rejected the conflict of interest claims, asserting that his actions maintained full regulatory compliance. His legal counsel criticized the accusations as unfounded.

“The allegations made against Mr Nasser Al-Khelaifi are without basis, neither legally nor factually.”

In a February letter to the National Ethics and Deontology Council of the French Football Federation, beIN stated that Al-Khelaifi holds no operational or executive authority within the broadcaster or beIN Sports France, with executive power residing entirely with chief executive Yousef Al-Obaidly. A source familiar with the proceedings stated that Al-Khelaifi recused himself from nearly all LFP board meetings over the previous year and avoided sessions covering beIN business.

Broader disputes and past legal proceedings

The broadcast rights probe coincides with other governance disputes in French football. Nicolas de Tavernost previously resigned as head of the league-created channel Ligue+ after FIFA awarded World Cup broadcasting rights to beIN Sports following an anticipated deal with the French channel. Al-Khelaifi, who has led Paris Saint-Germain since Qatar Sports Investments acquired the club in 2011, has encountered earlier legal scrutiny in France. In February 2025, magistrates charged him with complicity in abuse of power regarding corporate shareholder voting. In mid-February 2023, the Court of Cassation annulled previous corruption charges related to Qatar's bids for the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics Championships, ruling French courts lacked jurisdiction.