The indictment of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi for complicity in abuse of power in the Lagardère case caused strong reactions. If the threat of withdrawal from Qatari investments in France quickly circulated, a question remains: how far is Qatar ready to go to protect its strong man?
The importance of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi in the Qatarian strategy
Manager of PSG, president of the ECA and influential member of UEFA, Al-Khelaïfi is much more than a simple club president. He embodies the influence strategy of Qatar through sport, an essential pillar of the country's diplomacy. For Doha, sport is a global showcase, and Nasser is one of the main architects.
According to Jean-Baptiste Guégan, a specialist in sport geopolitics, Qatar is unlikely to abandon al-Khelaïfi. But then, why this agitation? It would be a pressure strategy on justice and the French government. Doha is not afraid for its assets, but for its reputation. Nasser is a central cog: his fall would weaken the Qatarian influence in world sport.
Nasser Al-Khelaifi has the total support of Doha.
What future for Nasser and the influence of Qatar?
Qatar has already shown its ability to defend its interests by all means. The Kylian Mbappé episode of the summer of 2023 is the perfect example: at a time when many have given way, Doha held out.
Can we imagine Qatar sacrificing al-Khelaïfi? Unlikely. It is an essential intermediary between Doha and sports institutions. But this case could redefine Qatari strategies: keeping Nasser at all costs or gently preparing a succession to preserve the interests of the country.
Anyway, Qatar plays big. The future of Nasser Al-Khelaïfi is not just a judicial case, it is a question of balance for a nation that has made sport its lever of international influence.
