The threat of Kylian Mbappé not drying out the photo shoot with the Blues had its effect. The French Football Federation “undertakes to review” the players’ image rights agreement “a.s.a.p”, she announced in a press release released on Monday evening. “The FFF is delighted to work on the outlines of a new agreement which will allow it to ensure its interests while taking into consideration the concerns and legitimate convictions unanimously expressed by its players”, she adds.
The star striker of the Blues has indeed made known this Monday in a press release his intention to do not participate in the photo shoot scheduled for Tuesday with the France team, to precisely denounce this convention of the rights to the image of the players. Following this announcement, Noël Le Graët moved in the afternoon to the center of Clairefontaine to try to unblock the situation. “After conclusive discussions in the presence of the executives of the France team, the president (Le Graët, editor’s note), the coach (Didier Deschamps) and a marketing manager, the French Football Federation undertakes to revise, as soon as possible, the convention inherent in the rights to the image which binds it to its players in selection”, says the federal press release.
In March, the Blues striker had already boycotted a meeting scheduled at Clairefontaine with several sponsors of the French team (Volkswagen, Uber Eats, Orange, Xbox, Coca-Cola, Konami) to “move the lines” according to its representatives. After this first quarrel, theappeasement seemed on the right track. “The exchanges” were to “intensify to arrive at a new version of the convention ahead of the next World Cup“, according to the advice of Mbappé. However, Monday in L’Équipe, the president of the FFF, Noël Le Graët had finally explained that “nothing will change between now and the World Cup” (November 20-December 18), thus reigniting the fuse.
At the height of the quarrel, in early May, Le Graët had threatened the player, again in the newspaper L’Équipe, to no longer receive income related to image rights bruises : “If he does not accept the operation he will have no money, that’s all”. What is commonly called the “premium” for players in the France team, 25,000 euros per gameis actually an image right.
What Kylian Mbappé asks for
A right to look
The attacker wishes in particular to keep the control of the brands with which its image is associatedincluding a right of inspection. “Never renegotiated” since his first selection, the convention “no longer allows the image of football to be developed while respecting the values that the institution can carry, but also those specific to each player in the team”, had already highlighted its representatives in the spring. “It is important that players are in harmony with the advertisements in which they participatehad detailed Delphine Verheyden, his lawyer in the columns of the Team.
“The messages that a player wants to convey can become inaudible, or even totally contradictory.“, she adds, taking the example of the organic food brand with which Kylian Mbappé is in partnership, when the France team is sponsored by “food that can lead to obesity”.
A regular review of the agreement
Another claim of the footballer: to revise the convention in question every four yearswhile this one dates from 2010. “This document comes into force at the time of its signature and expires five years after the end of his professional career. (…) For Kylian, it should therefore go from his 18 years to his 40 years roughly. It’s not realistic to make such a long commitment“, also denounced the player’s lawyer Delphine Verheyden.
Rotate requested players
“Where has the notion of collective image gone?” also wondered Delphine Verheyden in the columns of the Team. Behind this name, very often, advertisements which do not concern “only five players” among which Kylian Mbappé is generally a part, over-solicited by brands. “It’s not always the same ones who have to be chosen, as is too often the case for Kylian these days”.
“We have twelve sponsors, obviously everyone asks for Mbappé, it can be understood that at times he is annoyed”, had conceded Noël Le Graët on France Inter.
Get the money from the sale of the jerseys
Among the player’s demands, the possibility of receiving part of the profits on the sales of jerseys flocked in his name. “It is then up to everyone to decide if they want to keep this money or benefit football from below”, defends Delphine Verheyden.
The player’s entourage explains that if he wants more, it’s not for his pocket but to redistribute it entirely to works in amateur football.
Have the choice of interviews
Finally, the current convention “today requires players to answer any questions from any media”. What Kylian Mbappé wants to change, according to his lawyer. “Players should be able to choose when and where they want to be able to express themselves”she justifies.