PSG Star Lucas Hernandez Charged with Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Colombian Family

In a bombshell development that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defender and 2018 World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez has been accused of human trafficking and labour exploitation. The 29-year-old French international, along with his partner Victoria Triay, is alleged to have employed a Colombian family under gruelling conditions without proper legal documentation, treating them like “modern slaves,” according to the family’s lawyer.

The scandal, first revealed by French magazine Paris Match, involves a family of five from Bogota, Colombia – identified as Marie (the daughter), her mother Jeanne, father André, and brothers Christopher and Luc. They claim they were lured to France with promises of legal work and better lives but ended up working excessive hours as babysitters, security guards, and household staff from September 2024 to November 2025.

According to Marie, who spoke to Paris Match, the ordeal began when she met Triay in Colombia in June 2024 while working as her nurse during a medical procedure. Triay allegedly promised official documents within six months to allow legal employment in France. “She promised me that she would give me legal documents in six months so that I could be in order,” Marie recounted. However, upon arriving in France without a visa, Marie found herself on a 24/7 schedule for an “insufficient” salary of €2,000 monthly, paid in cash.

Soon after, the rest of the family joined, taking on roles that included round-the-clock security and childcare for Hernandez and Triay’s three children. The family alleges they worked 72 to 84 hours per week with no days off, no employment contracts, and no social security benefits. “We were exploited and humiliated, paid well below what we deserved,” Marie said. They also claimed to have accompanied the couple on trips and to matches, living on-site and facing constant pressure. In February 2025, they were made to sign confidentiality agreements and given fake Spanish identity cards.

One harrowing incident highlighted in the report was a December 2024 attempted burglary at Hernandez’s home, where André reportedly fired a gun – a SIG Sauer P320 provided by the couple – to scare off intruders. “We risked our lives for them,” Marie stated, emphasizing how the family put themselves in danger without any legal protections.

The family’s lawyer, Lola Dubois, slammed Hernandez for his negligence, noting his access to legal experts as a professional footballer. “An entire family is deprived of its rights. Without employment contracts, they are not entitled to unemployment benefits or adequate social security coverage,” Dubois told Paris Match. She accused the couple of “intentional offense,” pointing out that rushed contracts in October 2025 – after a dispute – falsely listed them as part-time workers at €1,029 monthly for 86 hours, an attempt to “regularize the situation” retroactively.

Hernandez and Triay have vehemently denied the allegations, claiming they were “betrayed” and “manipulated.” In a joint statement released on January 21, 2026, they said: “We opened our home and our lives to people who presented themselves as friends, who sought our kindness and for whom we had genuine affection. These people shared our lives with respect and dignity. We helped them, supported them, and believed them when they assured us that they were in the process of regularising their situation. That trust has been betrayed.”

They added: “Unfortunately, we are not the first to experience such a situation. Like many others before us, we were manipulated by emotional stories and false assurances. We never acted with malicious intent or in contempt of the law. We acted as human beings – and learned, painfully, that compassion can be exploited. What makes this situation even more trying is to see a gesture of trust and humanity turned into public attacks and accusations. This ordeal has been deeply painful for our family.”

The Versailles prosecutor’s office has confirmed an ongoing investigation into charges of human trafficking, undeclared work, and exploitation, handled by the Saint-Germain-en-Laye research brigade. If proven, Hernandez could face severe penalties, including prison time, though his claim of good intentions might mitigate this.

Hernandez, who started his career at Atletico Madrid before stints at Bayern Munich (where he won the Champions League in 2020) and PSG (another Champions League title last season), has seen limited action this campaign, starting just 11 games. Nigerian football fans, passionate about European leagues, have been buzzing on social media, with posts from outlets like Daily Post Nigeria and CreebHills expressing shock at the news.

This case highlights the darker side of fame and wealth in football, raising questions about labour rights for migrant workers. As the investigation unfolds, the world watches to see if justice will be served for the Colombian family.