Kylian Mbappé (27, Real Madrid) has officially filed a lawsuit against his former team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), on charges of 'moral harassment,' and French judicial authorities have launched a criminal investigation.
According to a report from France's 'L'Équipe,' the Paris prosecutor stated on the 26th (Korea time), 'A formal judicial procedure has been initiated regarding the moral harassment charges filed by Kylian Mbappé against PSG.'
The prosecutor officially announced, 'Two judges have already been assigned to investigate this case.' The criminal defendants have not been specified, and the investigation has begun in the form of 'contre X,' meaning 'unknown individuals.'
This indicates that the issue has escalated beyond mere contract discrepancies or wage disputes to a criminal complaint regarding human rights violations and organized pressure against the player.
This lawsuit was directly submitted by Mbappé in Paris on May 16, local time, with the core issue being that PSG isolated him by placing him in a 'loft.' 'Loft' refers to the practice of separating players who refuse contract extensions or seek transfers from regular training groups, a practice that has been controversial in France regarding human rights violations in recent years.
Mbappé claims that PSG subjected him to 'mental pressure, effectively forcing him to extend his contract and intentionally damaged his reputation to make transfers difficult.' In addition to this, he has also raised charges of 'attempted extortion of signature.'
This case has been assigned to the Human Trafficking Investigation Division (BRDP) of the Korean National Police Agency, and similar lawsuits are currently being investigated in parallel. Last year, France women's national team midfielder Kheira Hamraoui (currently Al Shabab) also filed a similar lawsuit against PSG. At that time, Hamraoui was also excluded from team training after returning from injury and claimed, 'The team intentionally excluded me to induce a transfer.'
The French Professional Footballers' Association (UNFP) also filed a lawsuit against several clubs operating 'loft procedures' in January this year, claiming moral harassment and threats, describing this practice as 'a strategic means to push players out and maximize their prices in the transfer market.'
Mbappé is still embroiled in a separate financial dispute with PSG. He played for PSG until the end of the 2023-2024 season, but is currently engaged in legal negotiations over issues related to bonuses and unpaid amounts after refusing summer contract renewal. The criminal lawsuit is ongoing separately, and there is a possibility of it leading to civil litigation, such as claims for damages.
Ongoing conflict with PSG after transfer to Real Madrid
Mbappé officially announced his transfer to Real Madrid this summer, concluding his seven-year association with PSG. However, it is extremely rare for him to file a criminal complaint against a club after leaving. As the captain of the French national team and one of the most influential players in Europe, his public disclosure of the internal operations of the club as a criminal issue is expected to have significant repercussions in French football.
In fact, in recent years, there have been ongoing debates within French football regarding the legitimacy of 'psychological pressure' and 'isolation measures' in player contracts. However, this investigation is the first time that such practices may be legally deemed unlawful.
The conflict between Mbappé and PSG has now transcended mere contract disputes and turned into institutional and legal issues. The football community, as well as the entire European sports community, is closely watching what conclusions the French prosecutors and judicial authorities will reach in this case.
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