By Martin Graham
Kylian Mbappé recently won a legal victory over his former club Paris St-Germainwhich will see him receive €60m (£52.5m) in outstanding wages and bonuses. Among the financial disputes settled was a sum of €1.5m (£1.3m) described as an “ethics bonus”, a term unfamiliar to many football fans in the UK.
Unlike English football, where clubs can deduct wages for disciplinary matters, French law does not allow such wage deductions. To manage this, French clubs split a player’s salary into two parts: a fixed salary and an additional amount labeled as an ethics bonus. This structure allows teams to withhold the bonus if certain behavioral standards are not met, rather than reducing the base salary.
The ethics bonus drew attention when Neymar’s Details of the contract emerged in 2021. He revealed that he received more than €540,000 every month as part of this deal. For Mbappe, his contract included a monthly ethics payment of €500,000. While early reports suggested players were being paid for minor gestures like cheering for fans, the reality is more complex.
These bonuses are essentially linked to a code of conduct. They include expectations such as punctuality, avoiding gambling and maintaining respectful behavior towards fans, referees and sponsors. The agreement allows clubs to encourage professionalism without infringing French labor law.
When players lose their ethics bonuses
This type of bonus is not guaranteed and may be withheld if a player does not meet the agreed standards. There have been notable examples of clubs exercising this option, further demonstrating that it is directly linked to conduct.
Marco Verratti had part of his ethics bonus withheld after he was found guilty of drink driving in 2018. Similarly, Hatem Ben Arfa was suspended for not taking part in a team trip to Qatar mid-season, resulting in forfeiture of payment.
Lionel Messi it had consequences in 2023 when PSG sanctioned him for traveling to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission. In this case, part of his earnings were suspended under the terms of the ethics clause.
Even in sports beyond football, the clause is used. French rugby club Racing 92 once withheld winger Teddy Thomas’ ethics bonus due to inappropriate behavior after an international match.
These clauses serve as tools for clubs to enforce discipline and protect their reputation. By tying portions of player compensation to behavioral standards, teams maintain a measure of control while staying within the bounds of labor law.
How bonuses increase players’ earnings
Today, contracts for top athletes are more complex than ever. Beyond clauses related to basic wages and ethics, many offers include additional incentives related to performance or image.
Loyalty rewards are one example, usually tied to a player’s signing anniversary. Players can also earn from image rights and achievements, such as scoring goals or participating in major tournaments.
According to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, some contracts at top Premier League clubs include substantial pay rises – up to 25% more – if players reach the Champions League. These bonuses reflect the increased commercial value provided by elite competition.
Top athletes often have entire business structures built around their names and brands. It is not uncommon for income to be split between base salary and various bonuses, as image rights alone represent significant additional income.
Some stars can earn up to 60% of their income through their primary contracts and then increase it by an additional 40% through these incentives. It shows how contracts have evolved far beyond simple pay-to-play agreements.
