PSG beaten in court by Gianluigi Buffon with French side told to pay €250k to legendary goalkeeper

According to L'Equipe, the Paris Court of Appeal ruled that PSG must pay Buffon €250,000. The case centred around a clause in Buffon’s spell at the club from 2018-19 when he joined PSG from Juventus. The clause stated that PSG would cover 50 per cent of any tax assessed by the Italian Revenue Agency on income earned in 2018, up to a maximum of €250,000. Buffon triggered the clause after Italy’s tax authority assessed his 2018 earnings at over €1.2 million. The Ligue 1 giants appealed a prior court ruling but lost again on July 10, finalising their obligation to pay the amount.

Although the 2006 World Cup winner only spent one season at PSG, legal issues stemming from the cross-border nature of his earnings dragged on for years. The clause had been added to ease Buffon's return to Italy, but when the French side contested its enforcement, it resulted in legal battles. Buffon’s legal team sought an additional €25,000 in damages for what they called PSG’s “illegal resistance,” but that request was denied. Still, the main victory went to the goalkeeper, who is now Italy’s national team delegation leader.

The case dragged on for over five years, during which PSG had previously been ruled against by the French Labour Court. Buffon played 25 games for PSG in all competitions in his single season in the French capital, featuring 17 times in Ligue 1.

The ruling officially closes the legal chapter between the French club and the Italian legend. For Buffon, it’s a moral and contractual win, underlining the importance of detailed clauses in cross-border sports contracts. PSG, meanwhile, avoid any further penalties but face renewed scrutiny over their handling of contract terms with past players.