FC Nantes and Moussa Sissoko implicated in French football scandal

A long-running judicial investigation into FC Nantes is uncovering an alleged network involving illegal sports agency practices, money laundering, and abuse of corporate assets. The probe, which covers transactions between 2015 and 2023, focuses on how funds were moved through various intermediaries.

Moussa Sissoko, the 37-year-old midfielder currently playing for Panathinaikos, has been indicted for the “use of forgery in public writing.” His defense maintains that this charge relates to an administrative dispute regarding the transfer of private funds between Sissoko and his uncle, Bakari Sanogo, rather than professional football transfers.

Other key figures under investigation include FC Nantes' deputy general manager Franck Kita. Investigators are examining reports that the club may have indirectly paid approximately €8.2 million to Bakari Sanogo, an individual who does not hold a sports agent license in France.

Additionally, midfielder Pedro Chirivella has provided testimony to authorities. He alleged that extraordinary bonuses paid to players were sometimes used to compensate agents who were not officially registered in France. The investigation continues to map the financial routes used during several high-profile transfers.