logo
Why is Kylian Mbappe's €180,000 donation under scrutiny? Check details

Why is Kylian Mbappe's €180,000 donation under scrutiny? Check details

Mint19-07-2025
Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid star and French national team captain, is known for his generosity off the pitch, often donating his international match bonuses to charitable causes. However, his recent donation of €180,300 from his 2022 FIFA World Cup bonus to five French riot police officers has landed him in trouble.
The funds, meant as an act of gratitude for the officers' protection during the Qatar tournament, where France finished as runners-up, have triggered a formal investigation by French authorities. But why? Let's find out.
Kylian Mbappe distributed the €180,300 to five members of France's riot police unit (CRS), who ensured the safety of the French team during the 2022 World Cup. Four officers received €30,000 each, while their commanding officer was given €60,300. The payments were made via personal check in June 2023, drawn from Mbappe's World Cup bonus.
While Kylian Mbappe's intention was to honour the officers' service, France's anti-money laundering unit, Tracfin, flagged the transactions as 'unusual,' prompting an investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN) and the Paris Public Prosecutor's office.
The investigation centers on concerns about the legality and ethics of the payments. Tracfin, tasked with monitoring financial crimes like money laundering and tax fraud, raised questions about whether the donations were properly declared and if they were truly for the officers' World Cup duties.
A key point of contention is the involvement of one officer in Mbappe's 2023 trip to Cameroon, where he accompanied the footballer as part of the French Football Federation's (FFF) security team.
This has led to speculation that the donation might have been a payment for personal security services, which could violate French laws on undeclared work.
French regulations are strict about public servants receiving private funds, as such payments could imply favouritism or hidden compensation.
Penalties for undeclared work include up to three years in prison and fines of €45,000, with even harsher consequences if money laundering is proven. The investigation aims to determine if the payments were lawful or constituted 'under-the-table' transactions.
Jean-Baptiste Soufron, the lawyer for the officer who received €60,300, has defended the donation's legality.
'This donation received for the 2022 World Cup was made by check and did not need to be declared,' Soufron stated.
'My client's interventions did not receive any compensation and fell within his normal role as head of security for the FFF,' he added.
As the probe continues, authorities will determine whether the donations adhered to legal and ethical standards.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Train carrying over 100 derails in Germany, several killed: Report
Train carrying over 100 derails in Germany, several killed: Report

India Today

time2 hours ago

  • India Today

Train carrying over 100 derails in Germany, several killed: Report

A train accident in the southwestern German state of Baden-Wrttemberg has left several people dead and others injured. The incident occurred early Sunday evening at around 6:10 PM (local time) in the Biberach district, close to the French to German media, a regional express train operated by Deutsche Bahn derailed while traveling from Sigmaringen to Ulm. A spokesperson for the federal police in Stuttgart said, "Two carriages of the Deutsche Bahn regional express train derailed."advertisementAt the time of the accident, there were 100 people on board the train. Emergency services, including firefighters and rescue teams, rushed to the scene, working through the wreckage to reach trapped passengers. Video clips from the area show rescue workers using special equipment while loud screams could be heard in the background, highlighting the panic and chaos that followed the CARRIAGES FLUNG OFF TRACK INTO TREES The force of the derailment was so strong that parts of the train were thrown off the tracks and into the surrounding forest. One of the carriages was seen lying on its side, with its roof torn open. The derailed carriages ended up on a wooded embankment, wedged between trees.- Ends

England vs Spain: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 prize money - How much prize money will winners take home
England vs Spain: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 prize money - How much prize money will winners take home

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

England vs Spain: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 prize money - How much prize money will winners take home

The UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final between England and Spain will take place in Basel, Switzerland's St. Jakob-Park on Sunday. Spain's defender #07 Olga Carmona (L) and England's forward #11 Lauren Hemp challenge for the ball during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 final football match between England and Spain at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel, on July 27, 2025. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP)(AFP) The Lionesses lost 2-1 in Sydney in the 2023 Women's World Cup final, which is being replayed here. It also mimics the men's European Championship final from the previous year, in which Spain won 2-1. Sarina Wiegman's team is attempting to become just the second country in history to secure back-to-back Euros titles after making it to three consecutive major finals. They are viewed as the underdogs versus La Roja, who have grown to be a formidable force in the women's game. The winning team will also receive a sizable portion of a record-breaking amount of prize money this year. Also Read: US-owned Irish soccer club Drogheda barred from Conference League by UEFA ownership rules What we know about Women's Euro 2025 prize money The incredible €41 million prize money for this year's Women's Euros is five times greater than the €8 million awarded in 2017 and more than double the €16 million awarded in 2022. About 70% of the entire 2025 budget is allocated to the fixed €1.8 million participation fee for each team taking part in the event, which is three times the amount of money allocated in 2022. The final 30% goes toward rewards for performance, with teams getting €50,000 for a draw and €100,000 for a win in the group stages. As the knockout stages progress, the amounts rise incrementally, reaching €1.75 million for each finalist. The 2025 tournament's club benefits package broke the previous record, rising from €4.5 million in 2022 to €9 million in 2025, making it the biggest of its kind in women's football. How much will Euro 2025 winners take home? The final winners will have access to a maximum reward money of €5.1 million, more than twice the €2 million jackpot that was potentially awarded in 2022. If Spain wins the final on Sunday, they will receive this amount because they have won both of their elimination matches and all three of their group games. Given that they lost to France in their opening match, England would receive a little less.

How gymnast Pranati battles injuries to find success
How gymnast Pranati battles injuries to find success

Hindustan Times

time2 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

How gymnast Pranati battles injuries to find success

New Delhi: Pranati Nayak breaks into a big smile at the mention of the Asian Championships. Last month in the South Korean city of Jecheon, the seasoned Indian gymnast earned a well-deserved women's vault bronze, her third in the continental event after Ulaanbaatar 2019 and Doha 2022. In March, she had also clinched the same metal at the World Cup in Antalya. Pranati Nayak earned a women's vault bronze at the Asian Championships at Jecheon, South Korea last month. (Getty Images) But all this success has come at a cost. In a sport where athletes start and retire pretty early, Pranati continues to deliver at well over 30, which means her recovery takes time, especially in recent times as her body is afflicted with multiple injuries. 'I have injuries in my right elbow and both the ankles. I have a tennis elbow because of which it pains a lot. Despite being right-handed, I don't do anything with my right hand. From filling bottles to drinking water, I do everything with my left hand. I use my right hand only during training and give it rest for the rest of the time,' Pranati told HT over a video call from Bhubaneswar. 'I have had chronic pain in my right ankle for over two years now. I regularly do rehab but as soon as I participate in a competition, the load and consequently the pain increases. After competition, I take a week's rest. Then I start again. This is how I manage my competitions and training.' It has become a norm for Pranati to meet doctors, physios and undergo scans on a regular basis. Unlike her younger days, the diminutive gymnast now takes at least a week to recover after a competition. It is understandable given the load her ankles take. Pranati, who mainly attempts the 720 Tsukahara vault these days, makes 15 landings even before competition starts. The number can go up if the landings are not perfect. Also, these landings are on hard mats as they are done on competition podiums unlike in training where she lands in a mud pit. 'We mostly train in the pit. That way, we can save our feet and ankles. It's a softer landing, meaning we can take more repetitions. The landing mat is very hard. My ankle swells up each time after competition. It also happens when I travel. When I sit, my feet don't reach the floor. It just hangs in the air. That also leads to swelling,' said the Olympian, who is only 4 feet and 9 inches tall. But Pranati has taken injuries in her stride and accepted the fact that her body will not get younger and that she has to manage it. Unlike back in the day when a massage, steam or ice bath would decrease the pain, she is coping with how to handle her pain. 'I have to move forward with this. I am used to it now. My only concern is how to recover and train well. For that I have to maintain my weight, make sure there are no additional injuries,' said the gymnast from Bengal. Having clinched the bronze at the Asian Championships, Pranati is eyeing further glory as she will next take part in the FIG World Challenge Cup in Paris and Szombathely (both in September) followed by the Jakarta World Championships in October. Next year, the World Cup series starts in February as she has firmly set her target at the Commonwealth Games followed by the Asian Games. While Indian gymnasts have won multiple medals at the Asian Championships, they have not been able to replicate the success at the Asian Games where India have won only one medal till date — Ashish Kumar's bronze in men's floor exercise in Guangzhou 2010. If she qualifies, Aichi-Nagoya 2026 will be her fourth Asian Games. 'If we can win a medal in Asian Championships, we can also at Asian Games. The same gymnasts participate in both. There is no difference. If I give my best, there can be a good chance of winning a medal. I have to get more points. This is my goal,' said Pranati, who last month was added to the sports ministry's Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) scheme.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store