Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed
Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe warms up prior the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scored his side’s first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Real Madrid at the Bergamo’s stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe takes control of the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
France’s Kylian Mbappe looks up as he wears a face mask during a team training session in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, file)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe warms up prior the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe warms up prior the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid at the San Mames stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scored his side’s first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Real Madrid at the Bergamo’s stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after he scored his side’s first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Atalanta and Real Madrid at the Bergamo’s stadium, in Bergamo, Italy, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe takes control of the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe takes control of the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Getafe at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
France’s Kylian Mbappe looks up as he wears a face mask during a team training session in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, file)
France’s Kylian Mbappe looks up as he wears a face mask during a team training session in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, June 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, file)
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors on Thursday dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé's visit to Stockholm in October.
In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova said there was not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel.
“During the course of the investigation, there has been a designated person suspected on reasonable grounds of rape and two cases of sexual assault, but my assessment is that the evidence is not sufficient to proceed and the investigation is therefore closed,” Chirakova said. “The designated person has not been notified of suspicion of a crime.”
Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation, but many Swedish media reported it was Real Madrid striker Mbappé, who visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league.
At the time Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false.
Mbappe’s lawyer Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard and the player’s representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
In an interview that aired Sunday on French TV station Canal Plus, Mbappé said he was “surprised” by the reports that he was the subject of a rape investigation and he had not been contacted by Swedish authorities.
“These are things that come into your life like that, you can’t see them coming,” Mbappé told Canal Plus. “It’s just incomprehension. I don’t think it weighed on me in the sense that I have never considered myself involved.”
The 25-year-old soccer star appeared in Stockholm on Oct. 10 during an international break instead of playing for France in the Nations League. Just days later Swedish media reported he was the subject of the investigation.
At the time Swedish prosecutors confirmed that a rape investigation began but declined to comment further.
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