Senegal international and Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr has reportedly fallen victim to a well-coordinated real estate fraud scheme in Diamniadio, resulting in a financial loss of 32 million CFA francs.
According to reports from the Senegalese daily Libération, the scam dates back to 2023, when Sarr was lured into a bogus property deal by individuals posing as executives of a legitimate real estate development firm.
Convinced by forged documents bearing the branding of a non-existent company, Sarr made the full payment, believing he was purchasing an apartment in the fast-developing city of Diamniadio.
So confident was the footballer in the authenticity of the transaction that he began moving personal belongings into the apartment, assuming legal ownership.
The illusion shattered abruptly when he discovered that the property was in fact already occupied.
The rightful residents, unaware of any sale, forcefully removed his belongings from the premises.
Only then did Sarr realise the full extent of the deception.
The documents he had received were fraudulent, and the supposed property developers had vanished without a trace.
The incident has since been reported to the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) by the player’s representative, with a formal complaint filed and a probe now underway to trace the con artists.
“Everything seemed legitimate,” a source close to the player said. “There were stamped papers, polished presentations, and the operation appeared completely above board. It was a carefully orchestrated con.”
This incident marks the latest in a series of real estate scams targeting high-profile footballers in Senegal.
In a comparable case, national team goalkeeper Alfred Gomis lost 135 million CFA francs in a land deal allegedly facilitated by a trusted acquaintance.
That case, too, is under criminal investigation.
While the legal process takes its course, the incident serves as a cautionary tale for athletes and public figures investing in property, particularly in emerging real estate hubs where regulatory oversight may be inconsistent.
For Ismaïla Sarr, who has built a promising career in European football and remains a key figure for the Senegalese national team, the experience is not just a financial setback—it is a personal betrayal cloaked in professionalism.
