‘We were manipulated’ – World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez denies claims of human trafficking in statement

Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez has released a statement denying claims that he and his partner trafficked a Colombian family.

It has also been alleged, according to French outlet Paris Match, that Hernandez and his partner, Victoria Triay, also overworked the five people.

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The World Cup winner and Triay were said to have given the employees lengthy hours.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that the family that were working in Hernandez and Triay’s house did not have legal status in France either.

Allegations were made relating to the period from September 2024 to November 2025.

The pair have now released a statement to deny the allegations and claim that they have been ‘betrayed’ by those they ‘supported’.

Their statement read: “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.

“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.

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“This ordeal has been deeply painful for our family.

“This matter is now being dealt with through the appropriate legal channels, where the facts — not the narratives circulating on social media — belong. 

“We call for decency, restraint, and respect. We will not participate further in online speculation.”

Investigation underway

An investigation is now underway, with deputy prosecutor for the Versailles Judicial Court, Laure De Boutray, speaking out.

De Boutray said: “I can confirm that an investigation is underway, overseen by the Versailles prosecutor’s office and entrusted to the St Germain-en-Laye research brigade, on charges of undeclared work and human trafficking.”

Hernandez and Triay are alleged to have had the five employees working up to 82 hours a week without a day off.

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The daughter of the Colombian family told Paris Match that the footballer had promised her official documentation that would allow her to work legally in Paris within six months.

However, she, her mother, father and two brothers claim that the documentation wasn’t coming and that they had to work in tough conditions with ‘insufficient’ compensation.

They are said to have only been paid in cash and were given fake identity cards after signing confidentiality agreements.

The family’s lawyer, Lola Dubois, said on the matter to Paris Match: “An entire family is deprived of its rights. Without employment contracts, they are not entitled to unemployment benefits or adequate social security coverage. 

“Yet, this is a professional football player, surrounded by numerous lawyers, both in his private life and at his club.

“The fact that he never bothered to provide them with an employment contract demonstrates the intent behind the offence.”