PSG has announced that it refuses to pay the €55 million demanded by Kylian Mbappé that the LFP had ordered it to pay. The club has appealed the decision and the legal saga will continue for some time.
Between PSG and Mbappé, the story is over on the pitch but it should last a while longer in front of the legal commissions and other labor courts. As expected, PSG announced this Friday evening that it would not pay the €55 million claimed by the player as the LFP legal commission had ordered last week. Paris had until this Friday to do so and therefore reacted with a press release rather than a payment to its former striker.
“In law and in fact, the player has made clear and repeated public and private commitments”
PSG justified its position in a press release: “In principle, PSG has appealed the opinion of the LFP Commission, despite its limited effect. Indeed, PSG’s position is much more than a well-founded legal position. It is also a question of good faith, honesty, maintaining values and respect for the Parisian institution and its supporters, which is more important than any player. In law and in fact, the player has made clear and repeated public and private commitments that the Club is simply asking to be honored, and the player has benefited from unprecedented advantages from the Club during 7 years in Paris.”
As a reminder, Mbappé is demanding 55 million euros from PSG, which corresponds to his last three months of salary and part of his bonuses that were not paid to him during the 2023-2024 season. The club, for its part, highlights the agreement reached between the two parties in August 2023 and recalls: “The Club looks forward to these fundamental and undeniable commitments being respected in the appropriate forum, if the player unfortunately seeks to pursue this matter which is so incomprehensible for his reputation.”
The LFP, the FFF then UEFA and the Industrial Tribunal?
This non-suspensive appeal of the decision of the LFP legal committee taken last Thursday is only the beginning of the great legal saga that is approaching: the LFP via a national joint appeals committee and then the FFF’s higher appeals committee should judge the appeal in question. But it is then expected that the administrative tribunal of the CNOSF will be contacted, since neither party wants to give up.
Above all, it is the industrial tribunal and/or UEFA that the Mbappé clan could (and even should) seize in the medium term if no agreement is reached. As L’Equipe explains, “The industrial tribunal referral would result in the calculation of late payment interest, which is, to date, at a rate of 8% per year. Given the sums involved, this could represent around €4 to €5 million per year.” Between PSG and Mbappé, it is therefore more than ever a question of money.
