Mbappe demands PSG pay owed 55 million euros

In France, Kylian Mbappe has taken his former club Paris Saint-Germain to the disciplinary committee of the French league over a dispute involving unpaid wages and bonuses. This situation escalated on December 11, when a hearing is scheduled to address PSG's refusal to pay the 55 million euros owed to Mbappe. He had moved to Real Madrid in June, and the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) had previously ordered PSG to pay this sum stemming from his time at the club. However, PSG declared in October that they would not comply with the order, arguing that Mbappe had agreed to waive this amount in August 2023. The French Football Federation dismissed PSG's late request for reconsideration of the order last month, leaving the club vulnerable to potential sanctions from the LFP, ranging from fines to bans on player signings. The origins of this ongoing conflict trace back to an agreement reached a year prior, in August 2023. At that time, Mbappe was set to depart the club with his contract set to expire in June 2024. He had been sidelined from the PSG squad for refusing to extend his contract, which would have enabled the club to earn a transfer fee should he leave. Eventually, Mbappe opted for a free transfer to Real Madrid rather than extending his time with PSG, based on the contract specifics and being sidelined due to his refusal to renew. The controversial agreement stated that Mbappe would waive various bonuses totaling 55 million euros if he exited PSG at the end of the 2023-24 season, but questions regarding the validity of this deal have emerged, particularly from Mbappe’s entourage. Their position asserts that while he had expressed a willingness to forego this payment, the legality and enforceability of this agreement hinge on the specifics of the contractual obligations at the time of his departure from the club. As a result of the escalating tension between the star player and the Parisian club, the situation continues to unfold publicly. PSG's confidence regarding the LFP proceedings suggests that they believe this matter will not conclude with the disciplinary committee's decision but will likely require adjudication from an industrial tribunal. If the tribunal needs to weigh in, it might further complicate and lengthen the resolution of this dispute, potentially leading to significant implications for both parties involved moving forward.