STOCKHOLM – Representatives for the French football sensation Kylian Mbappé have dismissed as “false and irresponsible” claims circulating in Swedish media regarding a rape investigation involving him in Sweden.
Recently, various Swedish outlets, including tabloids like Expressen and Aftonbladet, along with broadcasters SVT and TV4, alleged that the Real Madrid forward was implicated in a rape accusation after a visit to Stockholm last week.
In reaction to these allegations, Swedish prosecutors released a concise statement on Tuesday indicating that a rape claim had been lodged with the police, although they refrained from identifying any suspects.
The statement from the Swedish Prosecution Authority mentioned that the alleged incident purportedly took place on October 10, 2024, at a hotel in central Stockholm.
Marina Chirakova, the prosecutor overseeing the case, did not provide additional details and stated, “From my side, I cannot confirm whether there is a suspect in the case.”
As is customary in Sweden, the names of potential suspects remain confidential until formal charges are brought or a suspect is taken into pre-trial custody.
Mbappé’s team criticized the Swedish press for disseminating what they described as “slanderous” misinformation.
“These accusations are completely baseless and irresponsible; their spread is unacceptable,” the communications team remarked in a statement shared with various media outlets.
“Kylian Mbappé will not stand by while his integrity, reputation, and honor are tarnished by unsubstantiated claims.”
Later on Monday, Mbappé took to his official account on X to express his outrage, stating “FAKE NEWS!!!!” and linked to a French news article that referenced the Swedish reports.
He seemingly connected the Swedish media coverage to a separate legal hearing he faced in Paris concerning unpaid wages owed to him by his previous club, Paris Saint-Germain.
“It’s becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance,” he added in his post in French.
As his legal team entered and exited the Paris hearing on Tuesday, they refrained from making any comments.
However, later in the day, Mbappé’s attorney, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, expressed her client’s confusion regarding the allegations in an interview with French television network TF1.
“We are informed that a complaint has been filed, but at this point, we don’t even have clarity on who it has been lodged against. A complaint does not equate to the truth; it does not establish guilt. And once again, I can’t even confirm whether the accusation involves him,” she stated.
Prior to the controversy, Swedish media had already reported on Mbappé’s brief visit to Stockholm, releasing photographs of him with his entourage.
He had been granted leave from international duty due to a minor thigh injury while France triumphed over Israel and Belgium in Nations League encounters on October 10 and October 14, respectively.
After a successful tenure with PSG, where he won a World Cup with France in 2018, Mbappé made a switch to Real Madrid this summer, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career.