France football captain Kylian Mbappe was “surprised” to see his name linked to a rape investigation in Sweden in media reports, but his lawyer said he was calm because he had nothing to regret.
Swedish authorities confirmed that a senior prosecutor was investigating reports of an alleged rape in Stockholm but did not name anyone linked to the case.
However, Swedish media reported that the French footballer was linked to an incident that took place at a hotel in central Stockholm last Thursday.
Kylian Mbappé also reacted, summarizing the reports as “fake news” to his 14 million followers on X.
Swedish media said the footballer spent two days in Stockholm last week, visiting a restaurant and then a nightclub on Thursday night. He was photographed walking with three other people in the center of the capital.
Swedish prosecutors clarified on Monday that the incident under investigation occurred at a hotel on October 10, according to a “criminal report” submitted to the police.
Police were seen visiting the Bank Hotel where he was staying on Monday before leaving with the luggage. One report said they took clothing from the hotel as evidence.
“The investigation is led by Senior Prosecutor Marina ChirakovaNo further information can be provided at this time,” Swedish prosecutors said.
Mbappe, who was not called up for France Football’s UEFA Nations League matches over the past week, has returned to training with Real Madrid.
Petra Eklund, a lawyer representing the complainants in the case, said she could not comment on the case at this time due to legal restrictions.
However, Sweden’s Swedish TV and other media reported that the accusation involved reasonable suspicion of rape, which is a lower level of suspicion under Swedish law.
Kylian Mbappe’s lawyer has denounced media reports as defamatory, with lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard appearing on TF1’s main evening news program on Tuesday night. Not knowing anything about the complaint, even if it was against her client, she said she was “shocked” by the media frenzy.
“[Kylian Mbappé] Never alone. He will never get into a situation that would cause him to take risks,” she insisted.
“So he completely rules out the possibility of any reprehensible conduct. I can tell you that with absolute certainty.”
She said the complaint proved nothing and she was preparing to file a defamation complaint.
Meanwhile, the footballer appeared to link reports from Sweden in a social media post on Monday night to a case at his former French club Paris Saint-Germain, which he claims involves unpaid wages and bonuses amounting to more than £5,500. million euros (£46 million).
“In the run-up to the hearing, things became so predictable, as if by chance,” he said.
Kylian Mbappe is PSG’s all-time top scorer but left the club in the summer after months of controversy. The French Football League (LFP) appeals committee held a hearing on Tuesday. PSG has denied the player’s allegations and another of Mbappe’s lawyers said a decision was expected on October 25.
Sweden reforms rape laws in 2018therefore, a person can be found guilty of negligent assault or rape if the offender “should have been aware that the other person was not voluntarily participating”.
