PSG superstar, Kylian Mbappe has been embroiled in an image rights row with the French Football Federation (FFF) after he reportedly refused to take part in a sponsorship commitment.
French publication L’Equipe, as per Get Football News France, have reported that Mbappe didn’t want to take part as he does not want his image to be associated with certain brands.
The report said the player’s representatives have been arguing with the federation for some time over the use of his image and no resolution has been found.
It’s said that sponsors of the French national team ‘did not appreciate’ that arguably the country’s biggest star refused to be involved.
Noel Le Graet, president of the FFF, called up Mbappe to try and change his mind, but, to no avail.
The player’s representatives believe that certain brands pose moral and ethical issues, with the 23-year-old’s image right rights going exclusively towards charitable causes
He’s also unhappy with the terms of the agreement between the federation and their selected players over image rights, which dates to 2010.
Back then it was agreed that image rights were distributed equally between the 23 players involved in each squad.
Mbappe though would like to see more of the team’s revenue to be distributed towards grassroots football.
The FFF are said to be considering their next move on how to respond to Mbappe’s no-show.
FFF president Le Graet, recently discussed Mbappe’s contract situation at Paris Saint-Germain.
His contract is set to expire at the end of the season and he is heavily expected to join Real Madrid.
Le Graet though says it would be ‘better for French football’ if Mbappe was to stay in Ligue 1.
He told Ouest-France: ‘I want Kylian to stay in Paris. It’s better for French football to have one of the best players in the world, if not the best, in its league. He is likelier to win the Ballon d’Or with PSG than if he leaves.
‘When you change clubs, you always have to get used to a [new] environment. Paris are on a bad run but remain a big club.’
He added: ‘Is the Spanish league better than ours? I’m not convinced. It’ll be a personal choice for him. But as FFF president I prefer that he stays in France.’
