The French Football Federation “undertakes to revise” the convention on image rights binding it to the Blues “as soon as possible”, it announced in a press release released Monday evening, attempting to resolve a dispute with star striker Kylian Mbappé. “The FFF is delighted to work on the outlines of a new agreement which will allow it to ensure its interests while taking into consideration the concerns and legitimate convictions unanimously expressed by its players”, she adds.
—FFF (@FFF) September 19, 2022
A bone of contention between Mbappé and the FFF
The question of collective image rights, governed by an agreement dating back several years, was a bone of contention between Mbappé and his advisers on the one hand, who wanted to modify it as soon as possible, and the Federation on the other. who did not intend to rush the discussions. The subject was invited to the full gathering of the France team in March and experienced a new episode on Monday, on the first day of the September internship, the Paris SG striker having made known his impatience after a statement from the president of the FFF, Noël Le Graët, explaining to L’Equipe that “nothing will change between now and the World Cup”, scheduled from November 20 to December 18.
This speech “returning the discussions after the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé, faithful to his positions and as he had indicated to the FFF, therefore decided not to take part in the photo session scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday)” , announced the advisers of the world champion, Monday afternoon, in a press release sent to AFP.
Le Graët moved to try to resolve the situation
Le Graët then moved, in the afternoon, to the center of Clairefontaine to try to unblock the situation, it had been indicated to AFP.
“After conclusive discussions in the presence of the executives of the France team, the president (Le Graët, editor’s note), the coach (Didier Deschamps) and a marketing manager, the French Football Federation undertakes to revise, as soon as possible, the convention inherent in the rights to the image which binds it to its players in selection”, affirms the federal press release. Solicited in the evening by AFP, the entourage of Kylian Mbappé had not reacted to the announcement of the FFF.