By Martin Graham
Kylian Mbappe recently secured a legal victory over his former club Paris St-Germain, which 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 supporters in the UK.
Unlike in English football, where clubs can deduct wages for disciplinary issues, French law does not allow such salary deductions. To manage this, French clubs divide a player’s salary into two parts – a fixed wage and an additional amount labeled as the ethics bonus. This structure allows teams to withhold the bonus if certain behavioural standards aren’t met, rather than reducing the base salary.
The ethics bonus drew attention when Neymar’s contract details emerged in 2021. It revealed that he received over €540,000 each month as part of this arrangement. For Mbappe, his contract reportedly included a monthly ethics payment of €500,000. While early reports suggested players were paid for minor gestures like applauding fans, the reality is more complex.
These bonuses are essentially tied to a code of conduct. They include expectations such as punctuality, avoiding gambling, and maintaining respectful conduct with fans, referees, and sponsors. The arrangement allows clubs to incentivise professionalism without violating French employment law.
When players lose their ethics bonuses
This type of bonus is not guaranteed and can be withheld if a player fails to meet the agreed standards. There have been notable examples of clubs exercising this option, further proving that it’s tied directly to conduct.
Marco Verratti had part of his ethics bonus held back after he was found guilty of drink-driving in 2018. Similarly, Hatem Ben Arfa was penalised for failing to join a mid-season team trip to Qatar, resulting in the loss of the payment.
Lionel Messi faced consequences in 2023 when PSG sanctioned him for travelling to Saudi Arabia without the club’s permission. In this case, part of his earnings was suspended under the terms of the ethics clause.
Even in sports beyond football, the clause is in use. French rugby club Racing 92 once withheld winger Teddy Thomas’s ethics bonus due to inappropriate behaviour following an international fixture.
Such clauses serve as tools for clubs to reinforce discipline and protect their reputations. By tying parts of player compensation to behavioural standards, teams maintain a measure of control while staying within the boundaries of employment law.
How bonuses boost player earnings
Today, contracts for top-level athletes are more intricate than ever. Beyond basic wages and ethics-related clauses, many deals include additional performance-related or image-based incentives.
Loyalty rewards are one example, usually tied to the anniversary of a player’s signing. 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 from leading Premier League clubs include substantial increases in pay—up to 25% more—if players reach the Champions League. These bonuses reflect the increased commercial value brought by elite competition.
Top athletes often have entire business structures built around their names and brands. It’s not uncommon for earnings to be split between base salary and various bonuses, with image rights alone accounting for significant extra income.
Some stars can earn up to 60% of their income through their primary contracts and then boost it by an additional 40% through these incentives. It shows how contracts have evolved far beyond simple pay-for-play agreements.