Mbappé Withdraws Moral Harassment Complaint Against PSG Ahead of Club World Cup Clash
Kylian Mbappé has officially dropped his legal complaint of moral harassment against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), just days before his current side, Real Madrid, is set to face the French champions in the semi-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup. The decision was confirmed by his lawyer, Pierre-Olivier Sur, in a statement to AFP on Monday, July 7.
“We are withdrawing our civil action,” Sur stated, bringing a temporary halt to one of the high-profile legal disputes involving the French superstar and his former club.
Mbappé had filed the complaint earlier this year, alleging he was subjected to unfair treatment and psychological pressure by PSG during the early stages of the 2023–24 season. According to the forward, he was isolated from the main squad and made to train separately with a group of players the club intended to offload—an apparent consequence of his refusal to extend his contract with the Paris-based club.
The accusations sparked an official inquiry by the Paris prosecutor’s office and reignited broader concerns about player treatment in professional football. The French players’ union had previously raised similar concerns in 2023, calling attention to what they described as a recurring pattern of sidelining players who decline contract renewals.
Mbappé’s exclusion from PSG’s pre-season tour of Asia and his absence from the opening match of the Ligue 1 season that year further underscored the rift between the player and the club’s leadership. However, after weeks of tension and behind-the-scenes negotiations, he was eventually brought back into the first-team squad.
Now 26, Mbappé departed PSG in the summer of 2024, bringing to an end a highly decorated seven-year stint in which he netted 256 goals across 308 appearances. Despite his departure, PSG went on to lift their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy—an ironic twist in the club’s long and complex history with the player.
While Mbappé has retracted the harassment complaint, his legal entanglements with PSG are not yet over. He remains in a separate legal dispute with the club over approximately €55 million (roughly $64.4 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses. That case is still active and pending a resolution in court.
As anticipation builds for Wednesday’s high-stakes semi-final showdown between Real Madrid and PSG, the timing of Mbappé’s withdrawal from the civil case has sparked speculation. However, sources close to the player suggest the move was aimed at de-escalating tensions ahead of the match, allowing Mbappé to focus fully on his on-pitch responsibilities.
