French football 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 country.
Without citing sources, several Swedish media outlets, including tabloids Expressen and Aftonbladet and broadcasters SVT and TV4, reported the Real Madrid striker was the subject of a rape claim after a visit to Stockholm last week.
After the reports, Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement saying a rape had been reported to police, but did not name any suspect.
“According to the report, the incident took place on October 10, 2024, at a hotel in central Stockholm,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority said in a statement.
Prosecutor Marina Chirakova, who is leading that investigation, declined to give any further details.
“From my side I cannot confirm whether there is a suspect in the case,” she told The Associated Press.
Names of suspects are typically not made public by Swedish authorities until charges are filed or a suspect is ordered held in pre-trial detention.
Mbappé’s communications team accused Swedish media of spreading “slanderous” rumours.
“These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable,” they said in a statement.
“Kylian Mbappé will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honour being sullied by unfounded insinuations.”
In a post late Monday, local time, 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 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.
A lawyer for Mbappé, Marie-Alix Cane-Bernard, told French broadcaster TF1 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,” she said.
“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.”
Mbappé’s had a brief stay in Stockholm last week, skipping international duty because of a minor thigh injury as France beat Israel and Belgium in Nations League matches on October 10 and October 14, respectively.
AP
