The conflict between the players and the French Football Federation (FFF) continues to heat up just before the 2026 World Cup.
According to L’Equipe, the controversy broke out after the betting company Betclic released a new commercial to promote the friendly match between the French national team and Ivory Coast. The images in the campaign featured five French national team players: Rayan Cherki, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue.
What displeased the players was that they reportedly had no prior knowledge of the true purpose of the photoshoot. Among those who reacted most strongly were Cherki and captain Mbappe. These two stars believe that their images appearing in betting-related advertisements could violate the commitments agreed upon between the players’ representatives and the FFF in an agreement signed in 2023.
L’Equipe also noted that because the entire team is focusing on the 2026 World Cup campaign, the issue will likely be addressed after the tournament concludes. However, this is not a newly arising conflict but one that has been smoldering for years, with Mbappe being a pioneer in protecting the players’ image rights control.
Previously, the French striker had publicly opposed the national team collaborating with brands related to gambling and products that go against social values. In an interview with Canal Plus, Mbappe emphasized that many players come from neighborhoods heavily affected by gambling addiction. “I know a lot of people who have suffered the consequences of these activities. Therefore, we do not agree with our images being associated with such brands,” Mbappe shared.
Sharing her client’s viewpoint, lawyer Delphine Verheyden warned that players risk being associated with inappropriate messages through advertising campaigns. According to her, the reputation and image of players always come with certain values, so the use of their images must be strictly controlled.
As for the FFF, the federation argued that they complied with the terms of cooperation by ensuring a minimum of five players appear in promotional campaigns. However, the agreement also stipulates that the two team captains and the federation president must meet periodically to assess the suitability of commercial partners.
