Deschamps added that choice not to include Mbappe was neither due to injury nor a rejected call-up from the player himself
: PA Wire/Bradley Collyer
Kylian Mbappé has been axed from the France squad, a decision Didier Deschamps stressed was not related to reports linking the captain to a rape investigation he has branded “false and irresponsible”.
Deschamps would not elaborate further on why he had refused to select Mbappé for the country’s Nations League matches against Israel and Italy beyond also confirming the 25-year-old was not injured and had not rejected a call-up.
“What I can tell you are these two things,” Deschamps said. “One, that Kylian wanted to come. And, two, it’s not the extra sporting problems that come into play since the presumption of innocence exists and must exist. It’s a one-off choice for this gathering.”
Mbappé was previously left out of France’s squad for their Nations League games against Israel and Belgium last month due to what was described as a minor hamstring injury.
He went on to play for Real Madrid the following weekend, sparking criticism in his homeland.
During his absence from national team duty, he visited Stockholm, a trip that culminated in reports in Swedish media linking him with an alleged rape there.
Representatives for Mbappé’s team branded the reports “slanderous”, adding: “These accusations are totally false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable.
“Kylian Mbappé will under no circumstances tolerate his integrity, reputation and honour being sullied by unfounded insinuations.”
In response to the reports, Swedish prosecutors issued a brief statement saying a rape had been reported to police without naming any suspect.
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