Published 08:36 IST, October 16th 2024
'False And Irresponsible'- Kylian Mbappe's Team Dismiss Rape Claims Brought About By Swedish Media
Kylian Mbappe's legal team dismissed reports by Swedish media that the striker was under investigation for rape following his visit to Stockholm last week.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
Kylian Mbappe is stuck between a controversy as Swedish media have reported that the Real Madrid star is under investigation for rape in Sweden. Kylian Mbappe had visited Stockholm last week and ever since his trip, several media organisations have reported that Mbappe was involved in a rape claim. No sources or proof were furnished by these media organisations but the news has spread like wildfire due to the high profile personality of the French and Real Madrid striker.
Kylian Mbappe 's team have now dismissed these claims by the Swedish media saying that these reports are “false and irresponsible."
Mbappe's Legal Team Dismiss Swedish Claims
French soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s representatives have rejected as “false and irresponsible” reports in Swedish media saying he is the subject of a rape investigation in the Nordic country.
Without citing sources, several Swedish media including tabloids Expressen and Aftonbladet and broadcasters SVT and TV4 reported that the Real Madrid striker was the subject of a rape claim following a visit to Stockholm last week.
In response to the reports, Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement Tuesday saying a rape had been reported to police, but didn’t name any suspect.
“According to the report the incident took place on Oct. 10, 2024, at a hotel in central Stockholm,” said the statement published by the Swedish Prosecution Authority.
Prosecutor Marina Chirakova, who is leading that investigation, declined to give any further details.
“These accusations are totally false and irresponsible"- Mbappe's Team
Mbappé's communications team accused Swedish media of spreading “slanderous” rumors.
“These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable,” they said in a statement sent to the AP and other media. “Kylian Mbappé will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honor being sullied by unfounded insinuations."
In a post late Monday on his official X account Mbappé wrote “FAKE NEWS!!!!” and linked to a French article picking up the Swedish reports.
He appeared to draw a link between the reports in Sweden and a hearing in Paris on Tuesday in a legal dispute with former club Paris Saint-Germain over unpaid wages.
“It’s becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance,” the post said in French.
Mbappé’s lawyers didn’t comment as they arrived for and left the hearing in Paris on Tuesday.
Later Tuesday, a lawyer for Mbappé, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, told French broadcaster TF1 that her client was “bewildered” by the reports.
“We are told that a complaint has been lodged, but at this stage we don’t even know against whom. A complaint does not make the truth, a complaint does not prove anything. And once again, I don’t even know if the complaint is against him,” she said.
Swedish media already last week reported on Mbappé’s brief stay in Stockholm, publishing pictures of him and his entourage.
The French star had been given permission to skip international duty because of a minor thigh injury as France beat Israel and Belgium in Nations League matches on Oct. 10 and Oct. 14, respectively.
Mbappé, who won the World Cup with France in 2018, joined Real Madrid this summer after seven years at PSG .
(With AP Inputs)
Updated 08:36 IST, October 16th 2024