This decision “obviously does not call into question his total commitment and his determination to contribute to the collective success of the national team for the important sporting events to come”, explain Mbappé and his advisers in a press release sent to AFP.
However, after a dispute in the spring over the use of the image of internationals, a convention that the star of the Blues and Paris Saint-Germain and his advisers wanted to modify, appeasement seemed to be on the way.
But the president of the FFF, Noël Le Graët explained that “nothing will change between now and the World Cup” (November 20-December 18), Monday in L’Équipe, and thus rekindled the fuse.
These statements “returning the discussions after the World Cup, Kylian Mbappé, faithful to his positions and as he had indicated to the FFF, has therefore decided not to take part in the photo session scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday)”, have explained the advisors of the world champion.
It looks like a step back: in early June, a meeting was held between representatives of Mbappé, in particular his lawyer Delphine Verheyden, and leaders of the FFF, President Le Graët in the lead.
– Revise the agreement –
“It was understood that this convention, drawn up in 2010, requires modifications to be in line with developments in sport and modes of communication”, then explained Mbappé’s advice.
“The exchanges” should “intensify to lead to a new version of the convention before the next World Cup”, they added.
The two parties then “shared the observation that the agreement should be reviewed every four years to be in line with developments in the sector”.
During various meetings, Mbappé and his entourage had been able, they explained on Monday, “to explain their position as to the need to modify the agreement governing the conditions of use of his image”.
But they did not ultimately lead to an agreement. And on Monday, Mbappé and his representatives “deeply regretted that no agreement could, as requested, be found ahead of the World Cup”.
This is a new jolt for a file opened in March. During a Les Bleus internship, Mbappé had not taken part in a sponsorship operation at the Clairefontaine training center to show his disagreement with the agreement signed by the internationals with the FFF for the exploitation of their rights to football. image.
– A request “for four years” –
Mbappé wants to be able to keep the choice of the brands with which his image is associated. In addition, being one of the big stars of the French team, he is always very much in demand by partners during advertising operations.
At the height of the quarrel, in early May, Le Graët had threatened the player, in the newspaper L’Équipe, to no longer receive income related to the image rights of the Blues.
When he announced that he was staying at Paris Saint-Germain on May 23, Mbappé had calmed things down. He returned to this disagreement, recalling that he and his advisers had been asking “for four years” for a discussion to revise this agreement. .
The player then mentioned a “little misunderstanding” with the Federation, promising to “settle all this quickly with intelligence and respect”.
Two days later, Noël Le Graët had assured the microphone of France Inter: “There will be a global meeting with all the players, and the lawyer, I will receive her when she wants”. He received it at the beginning of June.
“We have twelve sponsors, obviously everyone asks for Mbappé, it can be understood that at times he is annoyed. We will settle this quietly (…) Maybe we need to review things a bit “, had admitted the leader.
But things dragged on. And that ignited the fire.
