header-logo header-logo

06 March 2026
Issue: 8152 / Categories: Legal News , Sports law , Employment , Commercial , Sports litigation , International
printer mail-detail

NLJ this week: Mbappé row spotlights ‘ethics bonuses’

243952
A €60.9m award to Kylian Mbappé has refocused attention on football’s controversial ‘ethics bonus’ clauses. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Estelle Ivanova of Valloni Attorneys at Law examines how such provisions sit within French labour law

These bonuses, tied to conduct on and off the pitch, are lawful in principle—but only if framed as objective remuneration, not disguised penalties. French law prohibits ‘financial penalties’, rendering contrary clauses ‘deemed unwritten’.

The Paris Labour Court stressed that ‘contractual undertakings must be complied with’.

Poor drafting risks recharacterisation or invalidation; sophisticated drafting is now essential in a sport where reputation and revenue are entwined.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Devonshires—Rebecca Eastwood

Devonshires—Rebecca Eastwood

Housing management and property litigation practice strengthened by Leeds partner hire

Trowers & Hamlins—Rahul Sagar

Trowers & Hamlins—Rahul Sagar

Banking and finance practice bolstered by partner hire

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

mfg Solicitors—Ian Sheppard

Commercial litigation team welcomes senior associate in Birmingham

NEWS
A ‘parallel justice system’ is developing due to the increased use of Out of Court Resolutions (OOCRs), magistrates have warned
The government’s plan to cut jury trials could ‘cause more delays than it could ever serve to reduce’, veteran silk Geoffrey Robertson KC has warned
Artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to generate faster and cheaper transcripts of criminal court proceedings, ministers have announced
Solicitors practising litigation have been issued with a Law Society practice note following the Court of Appeal’s judgment in Mazur
Sir Andrew McFarlane has retired from the judiciary, following nearly eight years as president of the Family Division and president of the Court of Protection
back-to-top-scroll