SOCCER
Mbappé calls out ‘fake news’ after shocking report emerges following Swedish trip
The Frenchman took to social media to quash claims that linked him to a police investigation that was opened after his night out in Sweden.
Kylian Mbappé has taken to social media to furiously call out a report that linked him with an investigation in Sweden regarding a rape that occurred in the area where the Real Madrid player was staying during the international break.
It was Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet who first ran with the story, saying that an investigation had commenced regarding a suspected rape while posting pictures of Kylian Mbappé leaving his hotel surrounded by police.
However, the news outlet provided no other information on the case or links to the player other than the fact that he was simply in the general vicinity of the crime on the same weekend.
Mbappé the victim of ‘methodical destruction’ and ‘moral harassment’
Shortly after the story broke, Mbappé's entourage sent a strongly-worded statement to AFP saying : “Today, a new slanderous rumour is starting to spread across the web from the Swedish media Aftonbladet. These accusations are completely false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable.
“In order to put an end to this methodical destruction of (the) image (of Kylian Mbappé), all necessary legal actions will be taken to re-establish the truth and pursue any person or media involved in the moral harassment and defamatory treatment that Kylian Mbappé is suffering repeatedly,”.
Mbappé himself also went public: he posted a message on Twitter that not only reiterated what his entourage had said, but also hinted at a possible motive behind the story: a legal battle against former side Paris Saint-Germain. The French club are said to have not paid out the final portions of the now Real Madrid player’s salary and bonuses at the club, which add up to around $60 million.
“Fake news. It is becoming so predictable, just before the hearing as if by chance,” said Mbappe on Monday evening.
Aftonbladet’s report says that on Thursday, Mbappé and a group of people had dinner at a restaurant before going to a nightclub. They added that a rape was committed “in Stockholm city centre”, and cited a formal complaint made to police on Saturday after the alleged victim had sought medical attention. No names were mentioned by the Swedish outlet.
As for the football, Mbappé is not part of France’s squad for the international break due to injury. He is, however, expected to be available for Real Madrid’s upcoming LaLiga tie against Celta Vigo at the weekend.