The Spanish league will submit a complaint against Paris Saint-Germain over Kylian Mbappé’s new contract, claiming that the “scandalous” deal threatens European soccer’s economic stability.
Mbappé’s choice to stay with PSG rather than join Spanish giant Real Madrid prompted the league’s statement on Saturday.
In a statement, the league said it will submit a protest with UEFA, the European Union, and French administrative and fiscal authorities to “defend the economic ecosystem of European football and its sustainability.”
The league said the agreement puts “at risk hundreds of thousands of jobs and the integrity of the sport, not only in European competitions, but also in domestic leagues.”
“It is scandalous that a club like PSG, which last season reported losses of more than 220 million euros ($232 million) after accumulating losses of more than 700 million euros ($739 million) in prior seasons (while reporting sponsorship income at doubtful valuation), with a squad cost around 650 million ($686 million) for this season, can close such an agreement, while those clubs that could afford the hiring of the player without seeing their wage bill compromised, are left without being able to sign him.”
Mbappé extended his contract through 2025, stating that he was excited to continue his “adventure” in Paris.
In the past, the league has complained to UEFA about PSG’s non-compliance with financial fair play laws. The French team was first sanctioned by UEFA, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the judgment in a “bizarre decision,” according to the league.
“PSG is assuming an impossible investment, seeing that it has an unacceptable wage bill and large financial losses in prior seasons. It is violating current UEFA and French economic control rules,” the league said. “This behavior demonstrates once more that state-owned clubs do not respect and do not want to respect the rules of a sector as important as football. These rules are key to protect and sustain hundreds of thousands of jobs.”