Mohamed Sanhadji, a former security officer for the French national football team known by the nickname "Momo la République," was placed under formal investigation on September 19 for alleged corruption. He is suspected of having received more than 300,000 euros from several French international footballers between 2020 and 2024. According to reports, Sanhadji, who previously worked as a police officer, used flattery to manipulate the players, making them believe they were his favorites. He sent messages like "You are my most beautiful encounter in football" to players including Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, and Zinédine Zidane, while requesting loans and all-expenses-paid trips. Sanhadji avoided pretrial detention by paying a bail of 80,000 euros and now faces multiple charges, including corruption, influence peddling, fraud, and money laundering. He is currently prohibited from associating with the football world and has been kept away from the French national team. The investigation reportedly involves Kylian Mbappé’s donations, and Sanhadji is suspected by investigators from the IGPN, an independent authority in France that oversees the police, of having used his close relationships with footballers to request money over the years. According to L'Équipe, a French sports newspaper, Sanhadji received more than 300,000 euros from several French international players between 2020 and 2024, excluding the value of vacations and other non-cash benefits. The report states that Sanhadji received nearly 215,000 euros from players and coaches such as Kylian Mbappé through his mother, Fayza Lamari, Raphaël Varane, Sabri Lamouchi, Laurent Blanc, Yann M’Vila, and Mattéo Guendouzi. He reportedly used pre-written messages to make similar requests to each of them, assuring them they were the only ones he would ask and citing both his financial difficulties and a lack of knowledge in real estate. Under police surveillance, Sanhadji appeared to be aware of the questionable nature of his actions. He instructed each of the players to keep his requests secret, warning them that if the matter became public, "it would be my end." He reportedly told Mattéo Guendouzi on October 25, 2024, "If this comes out, it will be my end." For years, Sanhadji became an expert in flattery, convincing each footballer that he could ask for anything and that he was their favorite. He narrowly avoided pretrial detention after his formal investigation on September 16 by paying the 80,000 euros bail in installments over several months. Sanhadji’s legal team, contacted by L'Équipe, stated that "Mr. Sanhadji will reserve his statements for the justice system." They warned that those who wish to comment, summarize, or interpret facts out of context would do so at their own risk. Mohamed Sanhadji has expressed no intention to comment on the allegations in front of a "media tribunal."