Paris Saint-Germain’s academy is facing a fresh workplace dispute, with Paulo Gonçalves, the staff member who helped trigger an investigation into sporting director Yohan Cabaye last season, now subject to dismissal proceedings for alleged gross misconduct.
A new procedure at PSG’s academy
Gonçalves, a recruitment staff member and elected representative on PSG’s Social and Economic Committee, has been on medical leave for several months. He has already attended a preliminary meeting regarding a potential dismissal, while the committee has also been formally notified as required under French labour law.
Because he holds protected employee status, any dismissal would still require approval from the labour inspectorate.
- Last season, Gonçalves was involved in raising concerns that led to an internal investigation into Cabaye, PSG Academy’s sporting director.
- That inquiry examined, among other matters, allegations that Cabaye had harassed Pierre Reynaud, a long-serving PSG recruiter.
- Cabaye ultimately received a warning from the club.
- PSG later commissioned an external firm to examine all reports brought to its attention concerning Gonçalves.
- The subsequent inquiry is said to have identified alleged aggressive or inappropriate conduct towards colleagues, including a reported confrontation with another employee on a pitch, as well as other accusations considered serious enough to begin dismissal proceedings.
Relations under strain
The case comes amid reportedly deteriorating relations between Cabaye and several academy employees, including Mathieu Le Scornet, the technical director overseeing youth development and pre-academy football, and operations manager Lucas Vigneron.
There has also been movement within the recruitment department. Reynaud has returned to work after more than eight months of absence. Omar Allel, who had been expected to take over as head of recruitment, has left after around a decade at PSG to join Paris FC.
Gonçalves’ situation has intensified questions over whether his role in the earlier Cabaye investigation is connected to the current procedure. He declined to comment.
Disputed account of HR meeting
People close to Gonçalves believe the club’s decision is linked to his involvement in the previous inquiry. One associate referred to comments allegedly made by PSG’s human resources director during a meeting, warning that intervention could affect the decision Cabaye, described as Gonçalves’ “N+2” manager, might take over his professional future.
A member of PSG’s management who witnessed the exchange disputed that interpretation, saying the remarks had been taken out of context and were intended to underline the legal risks of an employee conducting an investigation within their own department.
PSG’s position
PSG said it treats every report concerning working conditions seriously and assesses each one rigorously and impartially, while respecting the rights of all parties and the applicable procedures.
The club added that when an inquiry reveals matters it considers sufficiently serious, it will take the action it judges appropriate within the law. PSG said it would not comment further on individual cases or an ongoing procedure.
