The standoff between PSG and Kylian Mbappé, which demands the payment of 55.4 million euros in salaries and bonuses, could impact the club on the European scene, as UEFA regulations say.
Kylian Mbappé (26 years old) could play a bad trick at PSG in Europe. But not necessarily on the ground. The Real Madrid striker is engaged in a standoff with PSG from whom he is demanding payment of 55.4 million euros in salaries and bonuses not paid by Paris, in reaction to his departure for Spain l last summer. The two parties are explaining themselves through legal means and in this game, Mbappé has already obtained two favorable decisions.
Sanctions from blame to exclusion
On September 11, 2024, the LFP legal commission agreed with Mbappé, just like the League's joint commission on October 25 which ordered PSG to pay. On December 11, the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League concluded that the referral was “inadmissible” due to the summons by PSG of the LFP before the Paris judicial court. The club has therefore still not paid. And that could pose a problem for him on the European scene.
The UEFA regulations, which organize the Champions League and European competitions, require clubs not to record any late payments to employees in the “licensing and financial viability” section. “As of July 15, October 15 and January 15 of the license season, the beneficiary of the license (the club, editor's note) must not have any arrears of payment to its staff resulting from contractual or legal obligations due at the latest on June 30, September 30 and December 31, respectively,” reads article 82.01 of the UEFA regulations.
“The beneficiary of the license must prepare and submit, within the time and in the form communicated by UEFA, a declaration confirming the total debts owed to staff, as well as the absence or existence of arrears of payment” , specifies article 82.02. “Each license beneficiary must declare that he has no payment arrears as of July 15 and October 15. If a license beneficiary is in arrears as of July 15 or October 15, if he has deferred debts as of October 15 or if the ICFC (UEFA club financial control body) so requests, he must also declare that he has no payment arrears as of October 15 January. The licensor must confirm the completeness and accuracy of the information submitted by the licensee.”
According to L'Equipe, PSG says it is calm and promises to transmit the information required by UEFA on January 15. The Mbappé clan believes that the European confederation has all the cards in its hands to slap the club on the wrist. If UEFA finds a fault on the part of PSG, the UEFA club financial control body can then demand a settlement agreement between the two parties, and thus force Paris to pay. In the event of refusal, the range of sanctions is wide and ranges from a warning to a withdrawal of title including “fine, deduction of points, withholding of revenue from a UEFA competition, the ban on registering new players for UEFA competitions or (…) disqualification from current competitions and/or exclusion from future competitions.” PSG is still far from all that but this dispute with Mbappé could well upset it beyond French borders.
