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Court orders PSG to pay Mbappe €60m in dispute over unpaid wages

2 hours ago
by Bella Ogechukwu
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A PARIS labour court ruled Paris Saint-Germain must pay more than €60 million ($70 million) to Kylian Mbappé in a dispute over unpaid wages and bonuses linked to the end of the France superstar’s contract in 2024.

Lawyers argued last month before the Conseil de prud’hommes de Paris in a judicial fight involving colossal sums.

On Tuesday, the court sided with Mbappé amid accusations of betrayal and harassment in the breakdown of his relationship with PSG.

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The award roughly corresponds to Mbappé’s initial claim of €55 million.

In November, his lawyers claimed that PSG owed him more than €260 million, arguing that his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one — a move rejected by the judges.

Such a reclassification could have triggered compensation for unfair dismissal, unpaid wages, bonuses, and severance.

PSG sought €440 million from Mbappé, citing damages and a “loss of opportunity” after he left on a free transfer. There was no immediate comment from the European champions.

Mbappé’s representatives said the ruling, which can be appealed, “confirms that commitments must be honored. It restores a simple truth: Even in the professional football industry labor law applies to everyone.”

The relationship between the 2018 World Cup winner and the reigning European champions turned bitter when Mbappé decided in 2023 not to extend his contract, which was set to expire in summer 2024.

This deprived the club of a juicy transfer fee despite having offered him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new deal in 2022.

He was sidelined from a pre-season tour and forced to train with fringe players.

He missed the opening league game but returned to the line-up for a final season after discussions with the club — talks that are central to the dispute.

The club accused Mbappé of backing out of an August 2023 agreement that allegedly included a pay reduction should he leave on a free transfer, an arrangement PSG said was meant to protect its financial stability.

PSG claimed Mbappé hid his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, from July 2022 to June 2023, preventing the club from arranging a transfer and causing major financial harm. It accused him of violating contractual obligations and the principles of good faith and loyalty.

Mbappé’s camp insisted PSG has never produced evidence that the striker agreed to forego any payment. His lawyers claimed the club failed to pay wages and bonuses for April, May, and June 2024.

“Mbappé scrupulously fulfilled his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years and right up to the final day,” his advisers said on Tuesday.

“He did everything possible to avoid litigation, even going so far as to withdraw a harassment complaint in a spirit of conciliation. In total, he had been seeking payment of his salaries and bonuses for more than 18 months.”

PSG rejected all accusations of harassment, highlighting that Mbappé took part in over 94% of matches in 2023–24 and always worked under conditions compliant with the Professional Football Charter.

The club’s claims included €180m for the lost opportunity to transfer Mbappé, who left as a free agent after turning down a 300 million euros offer from Saudi club Al-Hilal in July 2023.

Mbappé joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2024 on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG, who won the UEFA Champions League this year without him.

AP News

 

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The vocation of arts and culture journalist is the most insecure in the newsroom, says Anikulapo * …as NCC revives Annual Copyright Dialogue, honours Evelyn Osagie with posthumous award By Godwin Okondo THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) last Wednesday, December 10, 2025 revived one of its oldest institutional traditions with the return of its Annual Copyright Forum, reintroduced in 2025 as the Annual Copyright Dialogue. This was during a national webinar themed ‘Beyond Reporting: The Media, Copyright and the Nigerian Creative Economy.’ The event was a gathering of journalists, editors, culture writers, media executives, copyright experts and stakeholders from across Nigeria’s creative and intellectual property landscape in a discussion that explored the role of the press in shaping copyright consciousness, safeguarding creators’ rights and supporting the growth of the creative economy in the digital age. The NCC’s Annual Copyright Dialigue was held in conjunction with Arts Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN). While delivering his welcome remarks, the Director-General of the commission, Dr. John Asein, said the dialogue marked an important moment in the commission’s history, describing it as both a revival of a legacy platform and a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media. “This dialogue is more than an event,” he declared, “it is a reaffirmation of our shared responsibility to protect and promote creativity in Nigeria,” saying that the ommission recognises the press as indispensable partners whose reporting influences public understanding of copyright, impacts creators’ livelihoods and contributes to national policy formation. “Journalists are not mere observers,” he added. “They are interpreters of complex copyright issues, and the quality of their reportage has direct implications for the creative economy.” Asein noted that Nigeria’s copyright landscape is evolving rapidly, with digital technologies creating new opportunities and new challenges for regulators. He said the commission now regularly deals with violations that occur on cloud servers, algorithm-driven content aggregators and anonymous online platforms where pirated materials circulate at unprecedented speed. “The digital space has changed the way infringement happens,” he said. “Pirated works can be reproduced, distributed and monetised globally within seconds, making enforcement more complex and requiring strategic collaboration with media practitioners who help shape public awareness.” Providing historical context, Asein recalled that the first Annual Copyright Forum was held in December 1990 as a platform for exchanges between national and international experts on the development of Nigeria’s copyright system. “The forum was an avenue to re-evaluate strategies for cultivating copyright culture in Nigeria,” he said, noting that the forum continued until 2000, followed by the Copyright Summit in 2001, before falling dormant for more than two decades. “Reviving this platform is essential for rebuilding a sustained culture of dialogue, reflection and action in our copyright sector,” he added, adding that the new dialogue is intended to function as a “beacon” for policy discussion, institutional reflection and partnership building, highlighting the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the creative economy. 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The 2025 edition of the prize was awarded posthumously to Evelyn Osagie of The Nation, who passed away on August 17. “Evelyn Osagie was a distinguished journalist whose reporting consistently uplifted young and emerging creators, highlighted major copyright concerns, and supported the commission’s work with professionalism and empathy,” Asein said. “Her contributions were deeply valued, and this posthumous award honours her legacy while reinforcing the importance of accurate, thoughtful copyright reporting. She amplified the voices of artists who might otherwise have remained unheard and served as a bridge between the creative community and the public.” Veteran journalist and culture communicator and advocate Mr. Jahman Anikulapo was the first speaker at the dialogue. 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Mr. Anikulapo condemned needless this newsroom swap, saying it disrupts journalism workflow and the important institutional memory these seasoned journalists have in strengthening their respective sectors. “The vocation of the arts and culture journalist is the most insecure in the newsroom,” he said. “Yet, their work is central to documenting and promoting the creative economy. Protecting this beat should be a priority for the media and regulators alike.” Anikulapo referenced the Federal Government’s upcoming launch of the National Intellectual Property Policy on December 17, describing it as a landmark initiative that signals growing recognition of the creative sector’s importance. “This policy is not just another government document,” he said. “It represents the acknowledgment that the creative industry is central to Nigeria’s economic and cultural future.” He encouraged journalists to register for and attend the launch to fully understand the framework that will govern intellectual property and creative rights. “Many journalists are creators themselves—writers, actors, filmmakers, festival organisers—and engaging with copyright policy is essential to protect their own work and the wider creative community,” he said. 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Asein announced that the commission has completed work on a comprehensive copyright handbook for journalists, which is now in press and will soon be released. “The handbook is intended to be a practical guide for media practitioners,” he said. “It will cover copyright ownership, fair use, enforcement, reporting standards, and the responsibilities of journalists as creators and users of content.” Asein also outlined the roles the commission expects journalists to play going forward: “Journalists are partners in policy development, monitors of enforcement actions, evaluators of public perception, and champions against piracy,” he said. “Their voices can influence behaviour, shift attitudes, and strengthen compliance,” adding that the revival of the Annual Copyright Dialogue forms part of a broader effort to engage stakeholders across the creative sector, improve public education, and support the long-term growth of Nigeria’s creative economy. “Our hope is that regular dialogue and informed reporting will foster a stronger culture of copyright, encourage ethical creativity, and reinforce respect for creators’ rights,” he said. Other resource persons during the webinar included two copyright experts – Mike Akpan and Vincent Oyefeso while Mr. Jacob Atang represented the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Press Council, Dr. Dili Ezugha with the Arts Writers Association of Nigeria, being represented by the body’s Interim Chairman, Mr. Tony Okuyeme. • https://thearthubng.com/the-vocation-of-arts-and-culture-journalist-is-the-most-insecure-in-the-newsroom-says-anikulapo/