Mbappé's mother placed under the status of assisted witness in the Sanhadji affair

Fayza Lamari, the mother of Blues captain Kylian Mbappé, was placed under the status of assisted witness in the case of former police officer and ex-security manager of the France team Mohamed Sanhadji, prosecuted for corruption, AFP learned on Wednesday from a source close to the case. At the end of her hearing by the investigating judges last week, Fayza Lamari was placed under this status, more favorable than an indictment, for having requested help from Sanhadji, a police officer and employed by the French Federation (FFF), with a view to obtaining several visas for members of her entourage, according to this source close to the case, confirming information from the newspaper L'Équipe.

The captain of the French team Kylian Mbappé was heard by investigators from the IGPN (General Inspectorate of the National Police) on September 30, indicated two sources, specifying that numerous hearings had already taken place in this matter, such as those of former coach Didier Deschamps or the president of the FFF, Philippe Diallo. Investigations continue. Contacted by AFP, the lawyer for Fayza Lamari and Kylian Mbappé, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, did not wish to comment.

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Mohamed Sanhadji indicted

On September 16, Mohamed Sanhadji was indicted for “concealment of embezzlement of public funds”, “active corruption of a person holding public authority”, “active influence peddling on a person holding public authority”, “passive influence peddling by a person holding public authority”, “passive international influence peddling”, “passive corruption by a person holding public authority”. He is also being prosecuted for fraud and laundering tax fraud.

Confirmed in August in his position by the new coach Zinédine Zidane, then dismissed because of his judicial control, the former police officer would have received several payments from players including a donation of 60,300 euros from Kylian Mbappé. In the wake of this sum coming from the 2022 World Cup bonus, “Momo”, as he is nicknamed by the Blues, went to Cameroon with the French star during a private stay.

This “usual donation” of 60,300 euros was reported by a banker to Tracfin, the financial intelligence unit of Bercy, in July 2024, triggering the opening of a judicial investigation for concealed work and laundering of tax fraud. An investigation was opened in January. Police officer responsible for the security of the French team from 2004 to December 2025, Mohamed Sanhadji had to take early retirement from the national police, sanctioned after receiving this large check in 2023 without having informed his superiors.