Donnarumma: Two Jailed Over Violent Paris Burglary of Man City Goalkeeper, Wife

Two men have been jailed over the violent burglary of Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and his wife, Alessia Elefante, at their Paris home in July 2023, while a third defendant was acquitted.

Ilyas Kherbouch, 21, whom prosecutors described as the main organiser of the operation, was sentenced by a Paris criminal court to nine years in prison and fined €80,000.

Moktar Diop, 24, who admitted taking part in the operation, was sentenced to five years in prison, with two years suspended and subject to probation.

A third defendant, Khyan Mamouni, 22, who was accused of helping coordinate the robbery from his prison cell, was acquitted. The verdict was delivered late Friday after a two-day trial. (L’Équipe)

The case centred on the home invasion targeting Donnarumma and Elefante in the early hours of July 21, 2023, when the Italian goalkeeper was still playing for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Donnarumma subsequently moved to Manchester City, where he now plays as the club’s goalkeeper. (AFP)

The couple were asleep in their luxury ninth-floor apartment on Avenue Montaigne in central Paris when a group of masked men entered the property through the rooftops.

According to evidence presented during the trial, four attackers entered the apartment and pulled the couple from their bed before restraining them.

Donnarumma was beaten in the face with hard gloves until he bled, while the attackers demanded money, watches and other valuables.

Elefante, who was pregnant at the time, was also subjected to serious violence and was choked with a phone charging cable before the couple were separated and tied up.

The wider group involved in the operation was reported to have comprised seven people, some of whom have not been identified.

The robbers escaped within minutes with cash, jewellery, luxury watches and designer bags. Donnarumma estimated the value of the stolen property at just under €1 million. (AFP)

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Elefante lost her pregnancy a few days after the attack. Prosecutors referred to the loss during the trial and attributed it to the shock suffered during the burglary. (AFP)

Donnarumma and Elefante, who have since married, did not attend the trial.

Prosecutors had sought a 10-year prison sentence for Kherbouch, nine years for Mamouni and six years for Diop, arguing that the robbery was a highly lucrative and extremely violent operation.

Kherbouch, known as “Ganito,” was accused of organising the burglary while he was in prison.

His name had also featured in several other cases involving alleged kidnappings and violent robberies. He attracted further attention in March 2026 after escaping from Villepinte prison in the Paris region before being recaptured. (AFP)

Kherbouch denied organising the Donnarumma robbery despite evidence from messages and videos recovered from phones used while he was in custody.

Mamouni, who was also accused of coordinating the operation from prison, similarly denied the allegations. His lawyer welcomed his acquittal, saying the court had considered the evidence and uncertainties surrounding the case before reaching its decision. (AFP)

Diop was the only one of the three defendants who was present at the scene of the burglary.

He admitted being involved but maintained that he acted only as a lookout, positioned on the roof of a building opposite Donnarumma’s apartment.

Prosecutors, however, argued that he was part of the criminal operation that targeted the couple.

The trial was marked by dramatic scenes on its first day after Kherbouch repeatedly insulted and threatened police officers in the courtroom following a dispute involving members of his family.

The proceedings were temporarily disrupted as police officers entered the courtroom and some of Kherbouch’s relatives were removed.

Kherbouch later apologised to the officers and the court, allowing the second day of proceedings to continue in a calmer atmosphere. (L’Équipe)

The case also involved another alleged participant who was a childhood friend of Diop.

That man, who was accused of being involved in the operation and later described as an informant, died by suicide in prison in May 2024 after reportedly facing threats linked to the case. (AFP)

The prosecution presented the Donnarumma burglary as part of a wider pattern of home invasions targeting wealthy residents and celebrities in Paris, particularly in affluent areas such as Avenue Montaigne.

Prosecutors said several celebrities had been targeted in similar attacks between 2022 and 2025, describing the criminal activity as increasingly youthful and focused on lucrative targets. (AFP)

The Donnarumma case has attracted significant attention because of the level of violence used against the couple, the value of the stolen property and the alleged involvement of organisers operating from prison.

With Kherbouch sentenced to nine years and Diop to five years, the latest judgment has resulted in two convictions in the main trial, while Mamouni was cleared of the allegations against him.

The verdict brings the principal court proceedings over the 2023 Donnarumma home invasion to a close, although other alleged participants in the wider operation have been dealt with separately or remain unidentified.

Donnarumma: Two Jailed Over Violent Paris Burglary of Man City Goalkeeper, Wife

Gianni Infantino may be the only declared candidate running for another term as FIFA president ahead of March 2027, but his path forward is hitting severe turbulence across Europe.

On Monday, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) officially joined a growing revolt, announcing it will not endorse Infantino’s re-election. Citing deep concerns over transparency, backdoor decision-making, and broken governance, Belgium joins heavyweights like England and Italy in pulling their support.

At the heart of the standoff are two controversies that left European associations furious.

The World Cup Red Card Fiasco

The most explosive issue stems from the recent World Cup and an unprecedented disciplinary reversal involving US striker Folarin Balogun.

Balogun was handed a straight red card during the United States’ round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, triggering what should have been an automatic ban for the subsequent round-of-16 clash against Belgium.

Instead, FIFA stepped in and lifted the suspension, paving the way for Balogun to start. The move triggered immediate backlash across world football, which only escalated when it emerged that US President Donald Trump had personally phoned Infantino to intervene.

Even though Belgium went on to defeat the US 4-1, the RBFA is refusing to let the matter slide.

“Two months after the events, we note that our questions remain unanswered to date,“ said RBFA

President Pascale Van Damme, who has formally demanded the Balogun case be placed on the agenda for the FIFA Council meeting on October 15.

Backroom Commercial Deals

The fallout over on-pitch favoritism is only half the problem. The Belgian federation also hit out at Infantino’s aborted initiative to sell World Cup commercial stakes to private equity investors without widespread consultation.

While intense pushback forced Infantino to hastily shelve the private investment plan, the damage to his credibility was already done. Member associations are increasingly alarmed by what they view as centralized, unchecked governance in Zurich.

The Bigger Picture

Infantino has spent years consolidating power, but a rebellion led by UEFA powerhouses shows the cracks are widening. With the October council meeting looming and the election set for early next year, FIFA’s top seat might face its rockiest campaign yet.

FIFA, CAF suspend NFF election as Nigeria football reforms face fresh review

The proposed Nigeria football reforms have taken a new turn after FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) clarified that they have not reached a final decision on the future structure and administration of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The development contradicts reports suggesting that FIFA had reached an agreement with the National Sports Commission (NSC) delegation led by its Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and Director-General, Bukola Olopade, on the proposed reforms.

In a September 7, 2026 communication addressed to NFF Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov said FIFA and CAF were still assessing the legal, governance, administrative and electoral implications of the developments within the NFF.

The football bodies said their assessment would involve a careful review of the facts surrounding the crisis, the applicable NFF regulatory framework and the positions presented by the different stakeholders.

FIFA stressed that no conclusion had been reached at the time of the communication and that no decision had been taken on what action should follow.

The clarification means that the outcome of the proposed football reforms in Nigeria remains open, despite earlier indications that discussions between Nigerian officials and FIFA had produced an agreed roadmap.

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FIFA also directed that Emmanuel Ikpeme, whom it recognised as Deputy General Secretary rather than Acting General Secretary, should remain the primary point of contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF until further notice.

The directive places the NFF Secretariat at the centre of ongoing communication with the international football authorities as FIFA and CAF continue their assessment.

Another major development is the suspension of the NFF electoral process.

FIFA requested that no further steps or decisions be taken in connection with the electoral process until further notice. The international body said the measure was intended to preserve the status quo while FIFA and CAF complete their assessment and engage the relevant stakeholders.

The suspension does not, however, amount to a ruling on the validity of the decisions or positions taken by any of the parties involved in the dispute.

FIFA and CAF are also preparing to conduct a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest possible opportunity.

The delegation is expected to meet representatives of the NFF administration, members of the federation, the NFF electoral bodies and representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, including officials of the National Sports Commission.

The planned Abuja meetings are expected to give FIFA and CAF a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding the recent developments within the NFF and the different positions held by stakeholders.

The international football bodies will also examine whether any of the issues arising from the crisis require further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF statutes and regulations.

Following the assessment, FIFA and CAF will determine whether recommendations or proposals should be submitted to their respective competent decision-making bodies.

Until that process is completed, FIFA has warned against making assumptions about the possible outcome or predicting what actions the two international football organisations may eventually take.

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The latest development follows a leadership crisis that has shaken the NFF in recent weeks.

Former NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned, resulting in interim arrangements at the football body.

The leadership changes came amid growing calls for significant reforms in the administration of Nigerian football.

The Nigerian government, through the NSC, has been engaging football stakeholders and international authorities on how to address concerns surrounding the management and development of the sport.

A Nigerian delegation led by Dikko and Olopade had earlier travelled to FIFA headquarters in Zurich for discussions with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The meeting was seen as an important step towards resolving the NFF crisis and developing a framework for reforms. However, FIFA’s latest correspondence indicates that the international governing bodies are still assessing the situation and have not formally endorsed a final reform package.

The suspension of the electoral process also means that the proposed NFF elective congress cannot proceed until FIFA and CAF complete their assessment and provide further direction.

For Nigerian football stakeholders, the latest development could prolong uncertainty over the federation’s leadership and electoral timetable. It also means that any restructuring of the NFF will have to take into account the regulatory requirements of FIFA and CAF.

The joint assessment mission to Abuja is therefore expected to become a crucial stage in determining the direction of Nigerian football governance.

Until FIFA and CAF conclude their review, the proposed reforms remain subject to further consultations, while the NFF electoral process remains suspended.

The immediate priority is now for the international football bodies and Nigerian stakeholders to establish a mutually acceptable framework that addresses the governance concerns while ensuring that the country’s football administration remains consistent with FIFA regulations and the broader interests of Nigerian football.

FIFA, CAF suspend NFF election as Nigeria football reforms face fresh review