France team captain Kylian Mbappé is being investigated by Swedish police for accusations of “rape and sexual assault”, following his visit to Stockholm last week, as reported by Swedish media. However, those close to the singer categorically deny the allegations

Swedish justice has indeed confirmed the opening of an investigation following a complaint lodged concerning acts of rape and sexual assault alleged to have occurred in the hotel where Mbappé was staying on October 10, 2024. H24 SPORT takes stock of what is known about the case.

Origin of the case
It all began with an article published by the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. On Monday afternoon, it revealed that an investigation had been opened into an alleged rape that took place in the hotel where Kylian Mbappé and his family, including former PSG teammate Nordi Mukiele, were staying. A young woman reported the incident to the police on October 12, but did not name a suspect. According to Aftonbladet, the police took over the complaint after the complainant had received medical treatment. For the time being, the connection with Mbappé rests solely on the fact that he was staying at the hotel at the time of the alleged events. Neither the public prosecutor nor the alleged victim’s relatives have commented on the player’s possible involvement.

Is Kylian Mbappé a direct target?
The case took a new twist in the evening with the revelation by the daily *Expressen* that Kylian Mbappé is indeed being investigated for “rape and sexual assault”, which allegedly took place on October 10 in Stockholm. Swedish police have reportedly already collected testimonies at the hotel and seized clothing as evidence. At this stage, Mbappé is considered a “reasonable suspect”, a Swedish legal term denoting the lowest degree of suspicion.

What does “reasonably suspicious” mean in Sweden?
The concept of “reasonably suspect”, as defined by Swedish law, represents the lowest level of suspicion. It is based on concrete evidence suggesting potential involvement in the alleged act. This status is preliminary and does not yet imply the presence of solid evidence. On the other hand, a “probable cause” suspect must face evidence objectively justifying the accusations, which is not yet the case for Mbappé.

Why was Kylian Mbappé in Sweden?
Mbappé, released from his obligations with the French national team, had granted himself a stay in Stockholm. On Thursday evening, he dined at a well-known restaurant, before heading off to a club where he apparently took over part of the premises. He spent part of the night there, then left again the following day, before continuing his trip to Corsica.

The Mbappé clan’s response
Faced with the extent of the rumors, Kylian Mbappé quickly denied the accusations via a message on X (formerly Twitter), calling the information “Fake news”. According to Mbappé, the rumors appeared opportunistically on the eve of a hearing before the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) concerning a financial dispute with PSG. The player’s entourage confirmed that they were not aware of any complaint concerning him, denouncing a “slanderous rumor”. They are also prepared to take legal action to defend Mbappé’s image.

Conflict between Mbappé and PSG
The affair has rekindled tensions between Kylian Mbappé and his former club, PSG. The latter expressed its anger after the player seemed to imply that the club might be behind the rumors. PSG denounced the allegations and pointed out that they would be appearing before the LFP appeals commission in a dispute over 55 million euros claimed by the player. The commission will have to rule on this sum, the payment of which had been ordered by a previous decision.

All in all, this legal affair adds to an already tense context between Mbappé and PSG, while Swedish investigators continue their work to shed light on the events in Stockholm.