Kylian Mbappe’s decision to sit out of action during the October international break has resulted in other issues popping up. The Real Madrid star decided to have impromptu visit to Sweden during this break, but that has caused him to get entangled in some unnecessary controversy.
Mbappe visited Stockholm with his entourage (close ones) for a short stay before France’s Nations League games. He apparently dined at the Chez Jolie restaurant on Thursday (10 October) and even visited the V nightclub for a short period. Even despite his best attempts at keeping the visit discreet, trouble seems to have found its way into Mbappe’s path.
Fast-forward a few days after his visit and Swedish media have started reporting that there was a suspected rape incident in the area where Mbappe partied in central Stockholm.
As per Aftonbladet, the Swedish police are investing the matter in the hotel where the French star and his entourage stayed.
The victim reportedly launched a complaint to the police on Sunday (13 October), while Mbappe had already left the city on Friday (11 October).
As per Expressen, another Swedish outlet, Mbappe is one of the individuals being subjected to the investigation but there is no proof that he committed any crime during his short stay in Stockholm.
Marina Chirakova, the prosecutor in this case, told Expressen: “I will not confirm that it is a case of rape. The only thing I can say is that a crime was reported committed on October 10 in central Stockholm.”
The Chairman of the Crimes Victim Center in Sweden, Sven-Erik Alhem also spoke on this matter and Mbappe’s links to the case, stating: “He is reasonably suspected, the lower degree of suspicion, and therein lies an assessment of how strong the suspicion is from the prosecutor. That makes his tasks very important.”
Alhem also insisted that Mbappe could be interrogated about this matter if the investigators find him as a major suspect, stating: “The interrogation does not necessarily have to take place in Sweden, but can also take place where he is via an agent.”
Ulrika Rogland, a former judge and lawyer, has also explained on how the prosecution of a European citizen can happen in Sweden, claiming: “If the person does not surrender voluntarily, they must first be detained in their absence, which allows their extradition to Sweden to be requested. There are possibilities with the help of the European arrest warrant.”
In Sweden, a person found guilty of negligent rape or negligent sexual assault can be prosecuted for a maximum of four years. With that being said, there is absolutely no proof against the Real Madrid player so far and all allegations are false unless somehow proven true by the Swedish authorities.
Mbappe is also reportedly considered to be on the ‘lower’ end of suspects in this case. This apparently means that the case should be dismissed in a few days time. As per Sverigesradio, the French forward is considered as someone with ‘reasonable suspicion’ meaning the authorities are keeping an eye on him but have no concrete evidence against him.
Mbappe’s entourage have also taken aim at Aftonbladet’s claims, as they reacted to the allegations by stating: “These accusations are completely false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable. In order to put an end to this methodical destruction of (Kylian Mbappé’s) image, all necessary legal actions will be taken to re-establish the truth and prosecute any person or media involved in the moral harassment and defamatory treatment that Kylian Mbappé repeatedly suffers.”
Rather than staying silent on this matter, Mbappe has surprisingly gone on the offensive in taking the fight to the French media trying to smear his name.
He reposted a post from RMC Sport on X (Twitter) on Tuesday, where he simply wrote: “FAKE NEWS!!!! It’s becoming so predictable, just before the hearing as if by chance.”
The ‘hearing’ that Mbappe is talking about here is his ongoing legal battle with PSG over a reported £45.9 million in unpaid wages.
Mbappe is unlikely to witness this rape allegations go away immediately, at least not before the Swedish prosecutors close the case.
But what the last few eventful weeks have proven is that the Real Madrid star is probably no longer the ‘media darling’ in France anymore and needs to be even more careful & discreet with his actions off the pitch to keep the press vultures from eating away at his reputation.
