Ex-French president Sarkozy appeals conviction in Libyan campaign financing case

PARIS (AP) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy returned to court on Monday for an appeal hearing in Paris over his conviction linked to the alleged illegal campaign financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by Libya, a case that led him to spend 20 days in prison last year.

Sarkozy, 71, is challenging a September ruling by a Paris court that found him guilty of “criminal conspiracy.” He was sentenced to five years in prison for his alleged part in a scheme to obtain funds from the government of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi in exchange for political and diplomatic favors.

The verdict marked the first time that a former president of modern France had been sentenced to actual prison time. Sarkozy — who led France from 2007 to 2012 — began serving his sentence before a Paris appeals court ordered his release under judicial supervision pending the new trial.

The appeal hearing, which is scheduled to last until June 3, will reexamine all of the evidence and testimony related to Sarkozy and nine co-defendants — including three former ministers.

In September, the judges found that Sarkozy and his associates had formed a criminal association between 2005 and 2007 to secure money from Libya to support his successful presidential bid.

Sarkozy has denied wrongdoing and suggested the accusations were politically motivated.

He has faced multiple legal cases since leaving office but remains an influential figure in conservative politics.

In November, the Court of Cassation — France’s top court — upheld his conviction for illegal campaign financing of his 2012 reelection bid, requiring him to spend six months under house arrest wearing an electronic ankle tag, a sentence that has yet to be implemented.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at the Paris appeals courthouse for his triall over alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrives at the Paris appeals courthouse for his trial over alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center right, arrives at the Paris appeals courthouse for his triall over alleged illegal financing of his 2007 presidential campaign by the government of late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Chelsea has been handed fines totaling 10.75 million pounds ($14.3 million) and a suspended one-year ban from signing players for breaking financial rules during its previous ownership under Roman Abramovich, the Premier League said Monday.

Sanction agreements were reached after Chelsea self-reported potential breaches to the Football Association that came to light in 2022 when American investors Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital led a consortium to buy out Abramovich for 2.5 billion pounds ($3.2 billion).

The rules related to “financial reporting, third party investment and youth development,” the Premier League said.

“It was established that between 2011 and 2018, undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties,” the league said in a statement.

“These payments were not disclosed to the football regulatory authorities at the time, including the Premier League.”

The payments “were made for the benefit of Chelsea,” the statement said, “and should have been treated as having been made by the club.”

They “constituted a breach of the requirement to act in good faith towards the league,” the competition said.

Chelsea accepted the fine ratified by an independent commission and was given an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban and a suspended one-year transfer ban for first-team players.

The club said it was “pleased” to reach a settlement with the Premier League.

“From the outset of this process,” Chelsea said in its own statement, “the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators.”

The league noted Chelsea's “proactive self-reporting, admissions of breach and exceptional cooperation throughout the investigation acted as significant mitigating factors.”

It also said it was satisfied that Chelsea “in no scenario” would have breached the league's profitability and sustainability rules in those periods if the payments made had been properly included in the club’s accounts.

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Chelsea players celebrate after a goal during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)