<p>Kylian Mbappe, on the eve of his opening game of Euro 2024, spoke on the ongoing drama regarding politics in France. A rare snap vote is happening on July 7 where Emmanuel Macron is hoping for a change in the country’s parliament. A June vote for European parliament meant his centralist party lost considerably to the ultranationalist National Rally party. Calling snap elections dissolves the national parliament for now. It brings a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/09/world/europe/france-european-elections.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wave of uncertainty to French politics</a> if Macron’s Renaissance party fails to win a majority of parliamentary seats. </p>



<p>Kylian Mbappe has been in close communication with Macron throughout his young playing career. Much of that centers around where the French superstar plays. For example, Macron previously <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2022/05/23/mbappe-says-he-consulted-macron-over-psg-deal/">gave Mbappe advice</a> on whether he should stay with PSG in 2022. As the star of French soccer, Mbappe carries the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mbappe-confused-by-political-and-economic-pressure-perez-says-20220616-CMS-390010.html">weight and focus</a> of much of the French population.</p>



<p>That is why his comments regarding the political situation are so prevalent. Mbappe understands the severity of the upcoming July elections in France. He said the youth will play a major role in countering the growing role of what he called ‘extremists’ in France.</p>



<p>“We are in a crucial moment in the history of the country,” <a href="https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Kylian-mbappe-on-est-des-citoyens-avant-tout/1475158" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mbappe said</a> in a press conference on Sunday. “You have to know how to sort things out and see your priorities. We are citizens above all, we must not be disconnected from the world. We are in an unprecedented situation. I want to address all the French people and the young generation in particular. We see that the extremes are at the gates of power. We have the possibility to change everything.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240617_WST_512006_Mbappe-Thuram-France-1200x670_8e40ec99.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-512009" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/Mbappe-Thuram-France-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/Mbappe-Thuram-France-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/Mbappe-Thuram-France-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/06/Mbappe-Thuram-France.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>Kylian Mbappe is not the first athletic star to discuss politics in France</h2>



<p>Mbappe’s comments came on the back of his France teammate Marcus Thuram speaking against the National Rally Party in France. Citing criticisms that the National Rally party is ultranationalist and anti-immigration, Thuram said all of France needs to battle.</p>



<p>“We all need to fight daily so that this doesn’t happen and that the National Rally does not succeed,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jun/17/marcus-thuram-france-alarm-political-turmoil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thuram said</a>.</p>



<p>France national team players are not new to making waves in the political sector. Going back multiple decades, Thuram’s World Cup-winning father Lilian Thuram spoke against the father of the current National Rally leader. Two years before that in 1996, then-captain of the France national team Didier Deschamps said Jean-Marie Le Pen talks nonsense. Regarding the current state of affairs, Deschamps, the current head coach of the national team, refused to comment.</p>



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<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="How to watch EURO 2024 on TV &amp; Streaming 🏆" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n0Q39wz9ojA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<h2>Focus for players remains on the Euros</h2>



<p>Mbappe, Marcus Thuram, Deschamps and the rest of the France camp have personally bigger goals over the next month while French politics flirts with disarray. On Monday, Les Bleus open their Euro 2024 campaign in Germany against Austria. As the runner-up in the 2022 World Cup, France is one of the favorites to win the European Championship. French soccer fans will hope Mbappe’s focus can remain on the competition, which France has not won since 2000.</p>



<p><em>PHOTOS: IMAGO</em></p>



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Kylian Mbappe voices need for French youth against 'extremists'

Kylian Mbappe, on the eve of his opening game of Euro 2024, spoke on the ongoing drama regarding politics in France.

<p>While FIFA’s HQ is not in Paris, the French Constitutional Council has decided against granting the organization tax exemption. It has led to speculation about the future of FIFA’s office in Paris.</p>



<p>The goal of French President Emmanuel Macron was to maintain the tax concession. He reportedly wanted to bring some of the organization back to Paris—the origin of the global governing body.</p>



<p>Established in 1958, the <a href="https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">French Constitutional Council</a> is empowered to assess the legality of French legislation. It ruled that French-founded federations violated the notion of equality before the law because of the tax advantages they received. As a result, these international organizations have long used Switzerland as their tax and legal basis.</p>



<p>Originating in France on May 21, 1904, FIFA is now presided over by Gianni Infantino. A specific system in Zurich allows the organization to pay little more than 12 percent in taxes. Reports are that FIFA supposedly pays over $22 million in taxes.</p>



<h2>FIFA employees to pay taxes in France</h2>



<p>The revelation broke when the French newspaper <em>Le Monde</em> reported that, beginning in February 2022, FIFA’s Paris activities will be exempt from corporation taxes and social security obligations. The French capital was the site of what the international federation deemed as “non-commercial and non-profit-making” events.</p>



<p>Employees of FIFA will now be <a href="https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/01/02/french-rule-giving-tax-breaks-fifa/">required to pay French social security payments.</a> It will significantly increase the cost of FIFA’s Paris operations, according to the latest verdict.</p>



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<p>Legislators failed to employ reasonable and objective standards to evaluate the legislation’s merit, according to the Council, which is why the bill is flawed. It was also acknowledged by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This alone was enough to constitute a contradiction. It also gives rise to legal inequalities that were without any logical or legal foundation.</p>



<p>The Council found that Article 31 of the challenged statute violated the principle of equality before the law. Thus, it was deemed necessary to condemn the provision.</p>



<p>After more than 90 years, it seems that FIFA’s plan to return to its Parisian roots has been foiled, as was previously public knowledge. Returning to its original location might still be possible. However, FIFA is required to behave like any other legal organization. As a result, they shouldn’t constantly seek regulations that favor it over others.</p>



<h2>Lifelong dream of FIFA’s HQ moving to Paris is now broken</h2>



<p>By 2018, Macron and FIFA President <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-boss-says-soccer-will-be-top-sport-in-north-america-20221217-WST-412608.html">Gianni Infantino</a> had worked out a way to bring certain aspects of the global organization back to its origins. After establishing its headquarters in Paris in 1904, FIFA relocated to Zurich in 1932.</p>



<p>They formally inaugurated the Hotel de la Marine, which would become FIFA’s Parisian headquarters of operations, three years later. The nation that will be hosting the 2022 World Cup, Qatar, contributed $142 million for the renovations that took place over four years.</p>



<p>By relocating to Paris, Infantino was able to implement his vision for a truly global FIFA. However, with a focus on forging closer links with the several member organizations in Africa.</p>



<p>Decentralization within FIFA was hastened by the first incentives provided by the French government. Reportedly, Infantino feels uncomfortable at home while being investigated for criminal charges in Switzerland.</p>



<p>Doha, Qatar is his present home, although FIFA has made it clear that he pays taxes in Switzerland.</p>



<p><em>Photo: Imago</em></p>

Will FIFA's HQ return to Paris? New French rule shatters dream

While FIFA's HQ isn't in Paris, the French Constitutional Council has decided against granting the organization tax exemption.

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Will FIFA's HQ return to Paris? New French rule shatters dream