The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced today that the inquiry into rape allegations against French footballer Kylian Mbappé has been closed due to a lack of sufficient evidence to proceed.

This is according to multiple reports on Thursday morning.

The allegations had drawn international attention, casting a shadow over the football star’s career.

Mbappé who has consistently denied the allegations, has yet to make an official statement regarding the decision.

His legal team had previously emphasised his commitment to due process.

PUNCH Online, quoting AFP on October 17, 2024, reported that Mbappé was “linked to a rape investigation in Sweden” and that he intended to reserve any explanations for the Swedish justice system “if necessary,” according to his lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard.

“He prioritises providing his explanations, if required, to the Swedish judiciary,” Canu-Bernard told AFP, while strongly condemning “media allegations suggesting that Kylian Mbappé had commented on the events of his trip to Stockholm.”

The case, which began earlier this year, involved accusations stemming from an alleged incident in Stockholm. The prosecutor’s decision not to press charges marks the end of months of scrutiny and speculation.

FIFA has confirmed Saudi Arabia as the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

The world football governing body announced at an online FIFA Congress on Wednesday.

The Middle Eastern country submitted the sole bid for the competition and got the nods of 200 FIFA member federations in the virtual event.

“The vote of the congress is loud and clear,” Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, said.

Saudi Arabia’s bid has attracted criticism since the country tabled the proposal in 2023. Some of the critics referenced the country’s human and women’s rights history.

However, FIFA’s bid evaluation team deemed Saudi’s human rights concerns only “medium risk”.

FIFA also ratified the decision to hold the 2030 World Cup across six countries on three continents.

Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the joint hosts of the competition. In commemoration of the World Cup’s centenary, the opening three matches will take place in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.

The World Cup was first held in 1930 and hosted by Uruguay.

FIFA had announced the numerous hosts of the event at the Congress in 2023.

The highly anticipated Merseyside derby between Everton and Liverpool, scheduled for Saturday, December 7, at 12:30 GMT, has been postponed due to severe weather caused by Storm Darragh.

A Saturday statement on the club website revealed this.

It is titled, “Everton v Liverpool postponed because of bad weather.”

The Merseyside derby was supposed to the opener game for game week 14 this weekend.

An emergency Safety Advisory Group meeting held at Goodison Park this morning, involving officials from both clubs, Merseyside Police, and Liverpool City Council, deemed the match unsafe due to strong wind gusts and an amber severe wind warning in effect until 6:00 GMT on Sunday.

In a joint decision, the fixture was called off to ensure the safety of fans, players, and staff, as high winds overnight also caused significant travel disruptions across Merseyside.

Everton, Liverpool statement
Everton expressed their regret over the postponement, stating, “We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank supporters for their understanding.

“Whilst we appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance.

“Information relating to a rearranged date for the fixture will be announced in due course. All tickets purchased for the original fixture will remain valid for the rearranged fixture.”

Liverpool echoed similar sentiments, adding “We appreciate this will be deeply disappointing for supporters, but the safety of fans, staff, and players is of paramount importance.

“Severe weather and high winds have also resulted in severe travel disruption in and around Merseyside.”

Travel Chaos, FPL Implications
Storm Darragh has wreaked havoc across the region, with gale-force winds disrupting travel and causing dangerous conditions. Fans travelling to the game faced major difficulties, solidifying the decision to postpone the fixture.

For Fantasy Premier League managers, the deadline to finalise squads remains unchanged at 11:00 GMT on Saturday, despite the postponement of this fixture.

Next Steps
Details regarding a new date for the fixture will be announced soon. Fans are advised to retain their tickets, which will remain valid for the rescheduled match.

This postponement underlines the unpredictable impact of extreme weather on football, as safety takes precedence over all else. Rugby union and horse racing were also affected among other matches.

Merseyside Police have advised against any non-essential travel in the region on Saturday, with an amber weather warning in place, Skysports reports.

It was set to be the final derby taking place at Goodison before Everton move to their new stadium.