Judicial Investigation opened after Kylian Mbappé files moral harassment claim against PSG over 2023 ‘loft’ | OneFootball

A long-running dispute between Kylian Mbappé (26) and Paris Saint-Germain has taken a new legal turn. According AFP and Le Parisien, a judicial investigation has been opened following a complaint from the former PSG forward for moral harassment.

The complaint filed on 16th May targets PSG’s handling of Mbappé’s situation in the summer of 2023, when he was excluded from the first-team squad and placed in the club’s now-infamous “loft” – a term used in French football to describe players sidelined during contractual disputes. Two investigating magistrates have now been assigned to the case, with the investigation formally opened on Tuesday.

The current Real Madrid player alleges PSG attempted to coerce him into signing a new deal by isolating him from the squad, a tactic the player’s lawyers equate to psychological pressure. The complaint also refers to “attempted extortion of a signature.”

This practice is not new. In early 2024, the French players’ union (UNFP) filed a similar complaint, denouncing the use of “loft” groups across Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 as a widespread form of pressure to either force transfers or renewals. PSG are not alone in facing legal scrutiny, but the profile of this case makes it particularly significant.

A parallel dispute between Mbappé and PSG is also set to unfold in the labour courts, with a complaint expected to be lodged in the coming days. The financial aspects of this case reportedly concern bonuses and unpaid sums linked to Mbappé’s final year under contract.

Mbappé is not the only footballer to have taken legal action against PSG over similar issues. Former women’s team midfielder Kheira Hamraoui, who now plays in Saudi Arabia, also lodged a harassment complaint earlier this year, alleging she was sidelined by the club post-injury to force her departure.GFFN | George Boxall