There is water in the gas between Kylian Mbappé and the president of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët. In an interview given to Sunday newspaper, the latter spoke of the lack of support felt by Mbappé after his missed shot on goal against Switzerland at the Euro, precipitating the elimination of the Blues. The French international reacted on Twitter, regretting that the president of the FFF did not take into account the “racism” of which he would have been the victim.
In a tweet, the Parisian striker nuanced a statement by the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) in an interview with the Sunday newspaper where the leader said that Mbappé “found that the Federation had not defended him after his missed penalty (against Switzerland at the Euro, editor’s note) and the criticism on the networks”. “Yes finally I explained to him above all that it was in relation to racism, and NO to the penalty”, replied the player on his Twitter account. “But he considered that there had been no racism…”
Yes finally I explained to him above all well that it was in relation to racism and NO to the penalty.
But he considered that there had been no racism… https://t.co/wZ1nQfb4l4— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 19, 2022
In September 2021, Noël Le Graët had already been the subject of criticism after declaring that racism in football “does not exist or hardly exists”. A few months before, in July, the Paris prosecutor’s office had announced that it was investigating racist messages towards certain players of the France team after the Euro.
Mbappé, insulted as “dirty nigger” after the Euro
The president of the Executive Council of the territorial community of Martinique Serge Letchimy had notably written on June 30 to the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti to condemn “insulting remarks” towards Mbappé. Among them, a very relayed message which insulted the PSG striker as a “dirty nigger” who “deserves to take a hundred lashes”.
On Saturday, the International Football Federation (FIFA) published a report pointing to the increase in the number of insults suffered by footballers on social networks. According to this study, 38% of them were racist in nature. The international body also communicated on the development of a “protection plan for teams, players, referees and supporters” in the face of this kind of message during international competitions.
It includes in particular a “moderation service” which will make it possible to detect messages and make them invisible “for the recipient and his subscribers”.