France coach Didier Deschamps declared a report claiming captain Kylian Mbappe was being investigated for rape in Sweden is not a good thing for the national team after the player himself dismissed the allegations as fake news.
Everyone is free to write what they want but there is a negative atmosphere around the French team, Deschamps told reporters following his teams 2-1 win over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League last night.
His comments came in response to questions about Mbappe, the France skipper who was allowed to sit out the teams games this month in order to work on his fitness.
That was already a source of controversy in the build-up to last Thursdays win against Israel, before a newspaper in Sweden on Monday claimed that the Real Madrid striker was being investigated for rape following a visit to Stockholm.
After Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported that an alleged rape had been reported to police but did not say who was accused, another publication, Expressen, said 25-year-old Mbappe was the suspect.
Be careful when you pick things up, Deschamps warned.
You had better take a bit of a step back before publishing anything and everything, but these things happen so often, he said, appearing to cast doubt on the report.
The footballer was visiting Sweden with friends from Wednesday to Friday last week, staying at the Bank Hotel in the city centre
France head coach Didier Deschamps attends a press conference after the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A2 match between France and Belgium
Kylian Mbappe has dismissed the allegations against him as fake news
Deschamps added: There are things that are not difficult to verify, but if you credit any old thing...
In any case I am not going to talk to him about it. He is big enough to know how to communicate.
The footballer was visiting Sweden with friends from Wednesday to Friday last week, staying at the Bank Hotel in the city centre.
On Thursday, the Real Madrid star visited the Chez Jolie restaurant, before heading to the V nightclub and finally back to his hotel in a black van with his entourage.
Aftonbladet reported that police were investigating a rape at the central Stockholm hotel, which allegedly happened Thursday night.
But Mbappe shared a newspaper article on the alleged rape on X and wrote: Fake News! Its becoming so predictable, just before the hearing as if by chance, referring to a hearing as part of his fight against his former club PSG over £46million in unpaid wages and bonuses that is set to take place today.
Mbappes entourage said in a statement sent to AFP: 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 Mbappe), 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 Mbappe is suffering repeatedly, the statement added.
A source close to Paris Saint-Germain told AFP it would ignore Mbappes claim that there was a link between the report in Sweden and his dispute with the club.
Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reports that police are investigating a rape at the central Stockholm Bank Hotel (pictured) where Mbappe was staying, which allegedly happened Thursday night
But Mbappe shared a newspaper article on the alleged rape on X and wrote: Fake News!
On Thursday, the Real Madrid star visited the Chez Jolie restaurant (pictured left after leaving the restaurant with his friends), before heading to the V nightclub and finally back to his hotel in a black van with his entourage
Investigators and a forensic unit were at the alleged crime scene on Monday, according to Aftonbladet.
The newspaper reported that the alarm over the alleged rape was raised when the woman sought care at a local hospital.
Mbappe left Swedens Bromma airport in a private jet on Friday.
The prosecutor in charge of the rape investigation declined to comment on the case, telling local media: I will not say anything about this.
Stockholm police issued a similar statement to MailOnline via spokesperson Carina Skagerlind: The police can neither confirm or deny such a case.
According to Aftonbladet, no suspects have been named in the case yet.
MailOnline has contacted the local prosecutors office as well as Bank Hotel for comment.
