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Kylian Mbappé’s Legal Dispute with PSG: A Multimillion-Euro Claim
September 5, 2024
Kylian Mbappé has taken the French Professional Football League (LFP) and UEFA to court in a dispute that has been ongoing against Paris Saint Germain (PSG) for months, demanding a payment of a bonus and three months’ wages totaling around €55 million gross, according to Le Monde.
On August 8, Mbappé lodged a complaint with the LFP’s legal committee, citing an article in the Professional Football Charter which stipulates that clubs must pay players by the last day of each month at the latest.
This legal commission has the authority to prohibit new signings if a French team fails to make payment to a player.
On August 13, the newly signed Real Madrid star (who ended his contract with PSG in June) sent an email to the French Football Federation requesting a report of the dispute to UEFA, the governing body in Europe.
The letter was addressed to the UEFA commission responsible for granting licenses to clubs competing in European competitions like the Champions League and ensuring compliance with financial rules, particularly regarding timely payments.
To obtain a European license, French teams must demonstrate that as of March 31, they had no arrears in payments to their staff.
Clubs are required to maintain this compliance regularly, or risk losing their license, a potential scenario for PSG in the 2024-2025 season.
The dispute originated over a year ago when, in the summer of 2023, Mbappé informed the team that he did not intend to activate the clause to extend his contract beyond June 2024, which led to speculation about a possible agreement with Real Madrid.
PSG management responded by excluding the striker from training with the main squad and relegating him to the group of players expected to leave.
The deadlock was eventually broken when Mbappé agreed that the club would not incur financial losses if he departed and expressed willingness to forgo a loyalty bonus to facilitate his exit.
This concession allowed for his reintegration into the squad, yet he felt a sense of void from the moment he informed President Nasser Al Khelaifi in mid-February about his intention to leave, resulting in reduced playing time.
Not only has PSG failed to pay him a third of his bonus (amounting to €36 million), but they also did not compensate him for the last three months of his salary (April, May, and June), contributing to the overall claim of €55 million.
The club maintains that this amount corresponds to the agreement made by Mbappé to resign if his departure was executed without payment from the new team, which is the case with Madrid, as they had no obligation following the expiration of his contract with PSG in June.
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For overseeing player disputes and contractual issues. In his correspondence, Mbappé highlighted the breach of contract allegations against PSG and sought intervention from UEFA to ensure that his contractual rights were upheld.
The legal challenges come at a time when Mbappé has transitioned to Real Madrid after a controversial end to his tenure at PSG. The superstar forward had been embroiled in tensions with the club throughout his final season, which culminated in his departure. Now, he aims to resolve the financial matters from his previous agreement, emphasizing the importance of enforcing player rights in professional football.
The outcome of this legal battle could set a significant precedent regarding player payment disputes in the leagues, reinforcing the accountability of clubs to their players. Legal experts believe that the ruling from this case may impact how contracts are structured and enforced in the future, especially regarding timely payments.
As the situation develops, both sides are bracing for a potentially lengthy legal process, with Mbappé’s financial claims at the forefront. PSG has yet to publicly respond to the allegations but is expected to contest the claims through legal channels.
This dispute reflects broader issues in football regarding player rights and responsibilities within contracts, particularly at the elite level, where financial stakes are considerably high. The situation remains fluid, and stakeholders from various football clubs and leagues are closely monitoring the proceedings.
