Kylian Mbappe has reacted to his decision to boycott the press in the ongoing World Cup and has offered to pay fines instead.
Kylian Mbappe has been a subject of World Cup media coverage after his somewhat controversial gestures so far in the tournament.
The PSG forward, who has won the man of the match award severally in the World up, has been hiding Budweiser’s name in his man of the match photographs to avoid promoting alcohol at the World Cup.
France’s star forward has not yet appeared at a single press conference in Qatar in an effort to avoid questions about his future with Paris Saint-Germain
The French Football Federation, who have offered Mbappe their full support during his press conference boycott, have decided to pay any fines picked up by players who refuse to speak to the media after winning a man of the match award.
Mbappe, who has been awarded with the man-of-the-match trophy on three occasions already in the tournament, does not want to be associated with the World Cup’s main sponsor Budweiser.
The well-known beer company is tasked with presenting the man-of-the-match trophy after each game, and Mbappe has deliberately hidden the brand every time he has posed with the prize.
Kylian Mbappe falls within his image rights policy not to advertise alcoholic drinks, as well as sports betting and junk food.
It is understood that Mbappe, who has become a role model for many French children following his meteoric rise to stardom in football, does not want to damage his image by promoting an alcoholic drink such as Budweiser.
Mbappe is currently leading the tournament’s Golden Boot race with five goals so far, above the likes of Lionel Messi, Marcus Rashford, Enner Valencia, Cody Gakpo and Alvaro Morata. However, his gestures have been a subject of controversy.
His decision to avoid press conferences has resulted in a fine for the FFF. Mbappe finally gave up on his media boycott and broke the silence on his behavior so far in the tournament.
The ex-Monaco star admitted he has been avoiding the cameras and even offered to cover the French football association by paying the fines himself.
Before answering questions, he addressed the lack of media appearances so far in the tournament.
Mbappe said: “It wasn’t anything personal, I have nothing against journalists. I just needed to focus on the tournament and my football.
“When I want to concentrate on something, that’s the way I function. That’s why I didn’t do press before.
“Now I know the FFF get fined and I said I would pay the fine myself, I didn’t think they should pay on my behalf.
“This is the competition of my dreams, I’ve been preparing all my life.
“So far it seems to be going well, we’re on our way to the ultimate objective, winning the World Cup, and now we have to focus on the quarter-final, that’s the objective now.”
Mbappe wouldn’t find it hard to pay such fines as he signed a lucrative three-year deal with PSG back in May that will see him pocket an astronomical £507million salary. He bagged a brace in France’s 3-1 thrashing of Poland to reach the quarterfinal.
