Mbappe accuses FFF boss of ignoring racist abuse
PARIS: France international Kylian Mbappe on Sunday accused the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) of ignoring racist abuse after his penalty miss at Euro 2020.
The Paris Saint-Germain star’s decisive spot-kick against Switzerland was saved in the last-16 shootout, resulting in the world champions exiting the tournament.
The 23-year-old was vilified on social media by furious fans, and even considered quitting the national team as a result.
In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, FFF president Noel Le Graet spoke of the lack of support Mbappe had felt after the Euro elimination, but failed to mention the racist abuse he had received, to the annoyance of the France striker.
Le Graet said “he [Mbappe] considered that the federation had not defended him after his missed penalty and the criticism on social media networks”.
“We saw each other for five minutes in my office,” continued Le Graet, adding the striker “no longer wanted to play in the French team, which he obviously did not think”.
Mbappe responded on Twitter, regretting that Le Graet had not taken into account the “racism” of which had been a victim.
“Yes finally I explained to him [Le
Graet] above all that it was in relation to racism, and NOT to the penalty,” Mbappe said.
“But he considered that there had been no racism.”
Le Graet later told French radio there was “no problem” between himself and Mbappe.
“I agree with him. I understood everything and there is no problem with Kylian. I have always had a deep attachment to him.”
Le Graet had spoken last year about how the striker had “taken a knock” after the penalty miss.
“He came to the federation. He had taken a bit of a knock. The elimination had affected him, especially the articles and the comments,” Le Graet said in an interview with AFP.
“My role was to show him affection, to tell him that the federation was counting on him to bounce back. It’s not a defeat that can change a career.”