France soccer captain Kylian Mbappé is “astonished” to see his identify linked in media studies to a rape inquiry in Sweden, however his lawyer says the participant is calm as a result of he has nothing to be sorry about.
Swedish authorities have confirmed {that a} senior prosecutor is investigating a report of a suspected rape in Stockholm, with out naming anybody in reference to the case.
Nevertheless, Swedish media report that the French footballer is being linked to the allegations which contain an incident at a lodge in central Stockholm final Thursday.
Kylian Mbappé has additionally reacted, summing up the studies as “FAKE NEWS”, to his 14 million followers on X.
Swedish media mentioned the footballer had stayed in Stockholm for 2 days final week, visiting a restaurant on Thursday night earlier than transferring on to a nightclub. He was pictured strolling within the centre of the capital with three different individuals.
Swedish prosecutors clarified on Monday that in response to a “legal report” submitted to police, the incident below investigation befell on 10 October at a lodge.
Police had been seen visiting the Financial institution lodge he had stayed at on Monday, with officers later leaving with luggage. One report mentioned that they had taken clothes from the lodge in proof.
“The investigation is being led by senior prosecutor Marina Chirakova, who’s unable to supply extra info right now,” the Swedish prosecution authority mentioned.
Mbappé was not known as up for France’s Uefa Nations League matches over the previous week and has returned to coaching together with his crew Actual Madrid.
Lawyer Petra Eklund, who’s performing for the complainant within the case, has mentioned she can’t touch upon the case in the intervening time due to authorized constraints.
Nevertheless, Sweden’s SVT and different media retailers reported the allegation concerned affordable suspicion of rape, thought of a decrease degree of suspicion below Swedish legislation.
Kylian Mbappé’s attorneys have condemned the media studies as defamatory, and on Tuesday night time lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard appeared on the primary night information programme on TF1, saying nothing was recognized of the criticism or even when it had been made in opposition to her shopper, who she mentioned was “surprised” by the media frenzy.
“[Kylian Mbappé] isn’t alone. He’s by no means put ready the place he leads to a state of affairs that will result in him taking a danger,” she insisted.
“In consequence that completely guidelines out any chance of reprehensible actions on his half. I can inform you that with completely certainty.”
She mentioned a criticism proved nothing and that she was getting ready to hit again with a declare for defamation.
In the meantime, in his social media submit on Monday night time, the footballer appeared to attach the studies rising from Sweden to a case together with his earlier French membership Paris Saint-Germain over €55m (£46m) that he alleges was unpaid in wages and bonuses.
“It’s changing into so predictable, on the eve of the listening to, as if by probability,” he mentioned.
Kylian Mbappé was the highest goalscorer in PSG’s historical past however he left the membership over the summer time after months of dispute. Tuesday’s listening to was earlier than a French soccer league (LFP) appeals committee. PSG denies the participant’s allegations and one other of Mbappé’s attorneys mentioned a choice was anticipated on 25 October.
Sweden’s rape legal guidelines had been reformed in 2018, so a perpetrator could be convicted of negligent assault or rape in the event that they “ought to have realised the opposite individual was not taking part voluntarily”.