French authorities have questioned Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and his mother, Fayza Lamari, as part of an expanding corruption and embezzlement investigation centered on the national team’s former head of security, Mohamed Sanhadji.
The judicial inquiry hanging over French football has drawn in the family of one of the sport’s biggest stars as a sprawling investigation intensifies around institutional security and financial dealings inside the French Football Federation.
Judicial Scrutiny and the Status of Fayza Lamari
Three investigating magistrates in Paris questioned Fayza Lamari on Friday, October 9, regarding her interactions with Mohamed Sanhadji, who managed security for the French national team from 2004 until his departure in 2026. The investigation encompasses scrutiny over whether the former security official used his official position and professional relationships to obtain privileges outside his regular duties. Sourced reports indicate that Lamari’s legal representation has thus far chosen to remain silent on the specifics of the inquiry.
Following the hearing, the court placed Lamari under the legal designation of a witness assisted by legal counsel, avoiding formal criminal charges for the time being. Under French law, the status indicates that investigators found possible indications of involvement but lacked definitive evidence to bring a formal indictment.
Investigators are examining whether Lamari asked Sanhadji for assistance in securing four entry visas. Sourced reports indicate that Lamari’s legal representation has thus far chosen to remain silent on the specifics of the inquiry.
Kylian Mbappé’s Interrogation and Financial Transactions
The national team captain answered questions from investigators on September 30 at the headquarters of the General Inspectorate of the National Police in Paris. Mbappé was questioned regarding his financial ties to the former security chief following his departure from the national team camp due to an injury.
Central to the financial aspect of the probe is a payment of 60,300 euros transferred by Mbappé to Sanhadji in June 2023. People close to the player described the transaction as part of gratuities distributed to security personnel who accompanied the French squad during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, offered as a token of appreciation for services rendered.
Investigators are also probing a separate transaction in which Mbappé lent Sanhadji a loan through his mother to assist with purchasing a home. Furthermore, authorities are reviewing a subsequent trip to Cameroon where Sanhadji accompanied Mbappé and his family, aiming to establish whether the security official operated in an official capacity or under private arrangements.
Broader Inquiries Into French Football Leadership
Sanhadji was placed under formal investigation on September 16, facing preliminary allegations of corruption, influence peddling, fraud, and the concealment of misappropriated public funds after a series of audits and police checks that also included a search of the French Football Federation offices.
The inquiry has expanded beyond the Mbappé family to touch several notable figures within French football. Police interviews and investigative reviews have encompassed former international player Franck Ribéry, former federation president Noël Le Graët, current president Philippe Diallo, and media personality Jamel Debbouze.
Magistrates continue to review the nature of the professional relationships Sanhadji maintained across the sporting landscape to determine whether the former security director improperly leveraged his administrative position to secure personal advantages and financial loans between 2020 and 2024.
