Kylian Mbappe's €180,000 payment to police officers defended as 'lawful' as investigation into Real Madrid superstar's donations is launched

According to reports, the generous sum was divided among five recipients; four riot police officers each received €30,000, while their commanding officer was gifted a larger share of €60,300. The funds were distributed from the bonus Mbappe received for representing France during the Qatar tournament, where the team finished as runners-up. However, the payment, meant as a token of gratitude, has triggered a formal investigation after France’s anti-money laundering unit, Tracfin, raised concerns over the legitimacy and declaration of the donation.

Jean-Baptiste Soufron, legal counsel for the officer who received the €60,300 share, addressed the situation publicly on Friday, stating unequivocally that the donation was “completely lawful.” Soufron asserted that the money was given via a personal check and therefore did not require a formal declaration under French law. He also clarified that the payment had no bearing on the officer’s duties beyond the World Cup.

"This donation received for the 2022 World Cup was made by check and did not need to be declared," Soufron clarified. "It makes no sense to make a retrospective link with the interventions carried out by my client in 2023 with Mbappe during public trips."

One focal point of the investigation is Mbappe’s visit to Cameroon, where he was accompanied by one of the officers who received a portion of the donation. The trip took place in 2023, after the initial donation was made, leading some to speculate about a possible connection between the money and the officer’s continued involvement in Mbappe’s security detail. Soufron, however, dismissed these claims, stating that the officer’s role on the Cameroon trip fell under standard responsibilities as a member of the French Football Federation’s (FFF) security team.

"My client's interventions did not receive any compensation and fell within his normal role as head of security for the FFF," explained Soufron.

Despite the unfolding investigation, Mbappe appears unfazed and is currently on a brief summer break following a tough conclusion to Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign as Los Blancos were humiliated in the semi-final with a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The forward is expected to report back to the club during the first week of August to begin pre-season training. The Spanish giants will begin their La Liga campaign on August 19 against Osasuna, with Mbappe set to play a key role.