According to L'Équipe, Sanhaji, the former security chief of the French national team, faces numerous allegations, and Mbappé had previously loaned him €120,000.

Sanhaji served as security chief of the French national team for over 20 years. He joined the team as a police officer in 2004 and became a trusted figure among various generations of international players. Players called him "Momo." According to L'Équipe, national team players supported his continued involvement with the team for the 2026 World Cup, and Zidane subsequently strongly recommended that he remain on the new coaching staff of the French Football Federation.

"If this comes out... I'm done."

Sanhaji is currently under judicial investigation following an inquiry launched in 2024. He was formally charged on September 16 on various counts including alleged embezzlement of public funds, active and passive bribery, active and passive abuse of influence, passive abuse of international influence, fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. Sanhaji remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.

An investigation published by L'Équipe on Thursday revealed financial transactions between Sanhaji and several French national team players, including Mbappé. The report states that Mbappé, through his mother Fayza Lamari, loaned Sanhaji €120,000 to purchase property.

Mbappé was not the only person from whom Sanhaji borrowed funds. According to L'Équipe, he borrowed from approximately 15 current and former French players, receiving a total of €215,000. Varane, Sabri Lamouchi, and Laurent Blanc each loaned him €20,000; M'Vila loaned him €15,000; and Guendouzi loaned him €7,500. Mbappé's €120,000 accounted for more than half of this €215,000 total.

L'Équipe's investigation also noted Sanhaji's caution in handling these loan requests. According to information obtained by the newspaper, he sent a message to Guendouzi on October 25, 2024, stating: "If this comes out, I'm done..." L'Équipe claims that Sanhaji received over €300,000 from several French national team players between 2020 and 2024, not including vacations and other benefits in kind.

Another €60,300 from Mbappé

Earlier financial transactions between Mbappé and Sanhaji have also come to light. In June 2023, after the Qatar World Cup, four police officers responsible for the security of the French team each received a check for €30,000 from Mbappé. Sanhaji received €60,300. In total, Mbappé distributed €180,300 to five police officers.

Those close to Mbappé have consistently stated that these funds were gifts to thank the security personnel for their service during the World Cup, given without any consideration. Mbappé himself also stated that he decided to use his prize money from the tournament for these gifts.

In the summer of 2024, Tracfin, the financial intelligence unit of the French Ministry of Economy, became aware of these transactions. Subsequently, the Paris prosecutor's office launched a preliminary investigation into alleged money laundering and unlicensed work. One of the main focuses of the investigation was to determine whether these payments were genuine gifts or potentially compensation for personal security services.

Investigators also examined Sanhaji's security detail for Mbappé on unofficial trips. This included Mbappé's personal trip to Cameroon in July 2023, shortly after Sanhaji received the €60,300.

The €60,300 and €120,000 represent two separate transactions. The former was described by Mbappé as a post-World Cup gift; the latter, according to L'Équipe's investigation, was a subsequent loan Sanhaji obtained for his real estate project. Unlike the €60,300, which became the starting point of the preliminary investigation. In total, Mbappé gave Sanhaji €180,300. According to publicly available information, Mbappé has not been charged in this matter.

From Police Officer to French Football Federation Employee

The €60,300 issue also had administrative consequences for Sanhaji. On December 19, 2025, following an administrative investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), his superiors notified him of early retirement. The French National Police criticized him for failing to report receiving the check from Mbappé to his superiors. Sanhaji had previously submitted his retirement effective December 31 of that year, which was also the end date of his assignment agreement with the French team.

However, leaving the police force did not mean Sanhaji left the French team. The French Football Federation immediately signed a contract with him through the end of July 2026, and he also accompanied the French team to the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Before the World Cup began, his importance among the national team players was already very clear.

L'Équipe reported that players insisted they would not travel to the United States without this security chief. On June 2, during Macron's visit to the Clairefontaine training center, Mbappé personally called on Sanhaji, who had remained low-profile until then, to appear in a photo with the French President.

After the World Cup, Zidane also supported Sanhaji's continued role. Sanhaji remained in the national team structure, handling logistics and personal security responsibilities. On September 15, the French Football Federation still included him in the new coaching staff configuration.

Allegations Lead to His Departure from the French Team

The situation then changed rapidly. Sanhaji was formally charged on September 16 and placed under strict judicial supervision. This measure prohibited him from contacting current and former players at all levels of the French national team, coaching staff members, current and former head coaches, and current and former officials and employees of the French Football Federation.

Except as explicitly permitted by the judge, he was also prohibited from visiting the French Football Federation headquarters, the Clairefontaine training center, the Stade de France, or the Parc des Princes. Furthermore, he was barred from engaging in any work related to professional sports, whether employed by a club or the French or foreign football federations. He was also required to pay a bail deposit of €80,000. These conditions currently prevent him from continuing to work for the French team.

The French Football Federation also decided to intervene in the case as a civil party. As the judicial investigation progressed, L'Équipe revealed other financial transactions not previously made public. These included what the newspaper described as the €120,000 loaned by Mbappé to Sanhaji for his real estate project, which differs from the €60,300 given by Mbappé in 2023, the latter having become the starting point of the preliminary investigation.

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