The French Federation does not give in to Mbappé’s wishes

On March 22, Kylian Mbappé refused to participate in a publicity act for the French team. The French striker, in agreement with his lawyer, considered that the players should have a right to be able to control the brands with which international footballers are associated. However, the French Football Federation does not contemplate, at the moment, making a variation regarding the sponsors that sponsor the current world champion.

According to information from The Teamthe highest body of French football is not going to change a single iota of the contract sponsoring to which the players who are summoned to the World Cup in Qatar must adhere. After a canceled meeting in March, Noël Le Graet, president of the French Football Federation, had a meeting in June with Mbappé’s mother and his lawyer, Delphine Verheyden, to resolve regarding image rights, without advancing considerable positions.

Mbappé’s lawyers, days later, wrote a statement in which they assured that they had to change the contracts to adapt to the sport: “It was assured that this agreement, drafted in 2010, must be modified to keep up with the evolution of the sport and communication methods. Meetings will intensify to reach a new version of the agreement before the next World Cup (November 20 – December 18)”. This report was not finally validated by the French Football Federation nor will it be validated before the World Cup.

This Mondayday in which the French team concentrates, Noël Le Graet will have a meeting with the members of the last call to talk about image rights. The Federation does not contemplate any modification scenario before the World Cup, so Mbappé’s wishes will have to wait. According to The Team, the president of the Federation has recalled that FIFA’s benefits for the World Cup (30% is donated to players and staff) have increased. A total of 440 million dollars will be distributed for the 344 million that were endowed in 2018.

One of the attractions in France of this last break before the World Cup is to see Mbappé’s attitude in the photos with sponsors of the French team. The player’s environment, according to The Team, preferred to remain silent when asked if he will be involved in such acts. The image rights, in addition, were a crucial aspect in the negotiations for his renewal with PSG, materialized in the month of May.