December 23, (THEWILL) – Noel Le Graet, the president of the French Football Federation, has revealed that he spoke with his Argentinean colleague, over the ongoing taunts of Kylian Mbappe from the South American team and their fans.
The Argentine team took offence to Mbappe’s assertion that South American football was not yet as developed as in Europe and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, seemed prepared to lead the mockery of the Paris Saint-Germain forward.
After their World Cup victory, Martinez requested a “moment of silence” for Mbappe in the locker room as part of the celebrations. He was later seen carrying a baby doll with a picture of the Frenchman’s face attached to it in the public celebrations back in his home country.
The taunts became even more worrisome when some Argentina supporters set a coffin with Mbappe’s name on it on fire. Consequently, Le Graet had to act and he contacted Chiqui Tapia, the president of the Argentina Football Association, to ask for an explanation for the ridicule.
He said: “I have written a letter to my counterpart from the Argentine Federation. I find these excesses abnormal in the context of a sports competition and it is difficult for me to understand them. They go too far. Mbappe’s behaviour has been exemplary.”
Bruno Le Maire, France’s Minister of the Economy, has also denounced Argentina’s taunts and urged FIFA to penalise La Albiceleste, noting: “What does FIFA do? Sport is fair play, it is respecting others, respecting the one who has lost, not insulting the loser.”
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
