Kylian Mbappé “calls on all young people to vote”, because “the extremes are at the gates of power”

At a press conference in Düsseldorf (Germany) on Sunday, the captain of the France team insisted on the fact that he did not want to “represent a country which does not correspond to [ses] values”.

“We are at a crucial moment in the history of our country. We must know how to sort things out and have a sense of priorities”, decided Kylian Mbappé at a press conference, Sunday June 16. Despite the imminent entry into contention of the Blues at the Euro, the captain of the France team called “the young generation to go vote”. A position taken due to the fact that “the situation in France is more important than the match” against Austria, according to the future Real Madrid player.

“We must not be disconnected from the world and even less so when it concerns our country. I want to address the French people, especially the younger generation. We can make a difference. Extremes can come to power. I hope my voice will carry as much as possible. We need to identify ourselves. We have values ​​of diversity, tolerance and respect. Every voice counts and this should not be neglected. I hope that we will make a good choice and that we will still be proud to wear the French team jersey on July 7”he developed.

The day before, his teammate Marcus Thuram had clearly taken a stand against the far right : “The situation is sad, very serious… Messages are conveyed every day to help this party pass, but as Ousmane said [Dembélé], you have to go vote. We have to fight every day so that it does not happen again and that the RN does not pass.” Kylian Mbappé defended the words of his partner in the attack: “IHe hasn’t gone too far, we are in a country where there is freedom of expression. He gave his opinion and I stand behind him.”

“Kylian Mbappé is against extremes, ideas that divide. I am for ideas that bring people together, respect and tolerance.”

Kylian Mbappé

at a press conference

Fearing a “political use of the French team”the French Football Federation reacted on Saturday evening in a press release affirming its wish “that its neutrality is understood and respected by all”. Just before the release of this press release, the president of the “3F”, Philippe Diallo, had even called Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann to instruct them on this same duty of neutrality, based on the football ethics charter.

Coach and therefore employee of the FFF, Didier Deschamps did not call on his players to avoid taking political positions. “Everyone will have their own analysis, I start from the principle that no matter what we say, there will be ‘for’ and ‘against’. We must recognize that they are footballers, but above all citizens. They are not outside the situation that France is experiencing. I have no advice to give to my players. They come with their own words and their own sensitivity.he said, refusing to comment on the words of his players.