The Football Association’s investigative claims manager was blackmailed by a pro player in a conspiracy that included threatening his “wife and children.”

A MANAGER at the heart of a stunning extortion case is under investigation by the FA after the trial collapsed last week.

The unnamed gaffer had accused a professional gambler of trying to extort thousands of pounds from him, including by threatening his family.

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Neither the alleged victim nor the two suspects charged in the case can be named for legal reasons.

However, the trial fell through last week when the manager refused to testify against those he had accused.

Both suspects were found not guilty at Derby Crown Court when the case was dropped.

It has now emerged that the FA has launched an investigation into the manager which could see him face FA charges.

The case has long been known to the English Football Association, according to reports.

There was evidence that the bets involved were from those involved in the case, but this has not been confirmed.

The FA declined to comment.

The two players, one currently under contract and the other an ex-pro, had both been charged with racketeering and perverting the law.

They denied all allegations.

This comes after news that Juventus ace Paul Pogba is under police protection amid his own extortion ordeal in Italy.

Pogba’s own brother Mathias has been accused of being part of the gang that tried to blackmail the former Man Utd midfielder for a large sum.

Mathias had previously claimed his younger brother paid a witch doctor to curse French team-mate Kylian Mbappe.