French authorities have opened a criminal inquiry into €180,300 in cheques Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé issued to five riot-police officers who protected the national football team. The Paris prosecutor’s office said the probe, launched after a referral from the finance ministry’s anti-money-laundering unit Tracfin, covers suspected undeclared work, money-laundering and tax-fraud offences. The Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN) is running a parallel administrative investigation into the officers, four of whom each received €30,000 and a fifth €60,300 in June 2023. According to investigators, the payments were flagged as “unusual financial transactions” because the officers are public servants barred from taking private remuneration. Le Canard Enchaîné reported that at least one officer accompanied Mbappé on personal trips, raising questions over whether the sums compensated off-the-books security work. Mbappé’s representatives said the cheques came from the roughly €500,000 bonus he earned for France’s runner-up finish at the 2022 World Cup and were distributed to charities and security staff “in full compliance with the rules”. The 26-year-old forward has indicated he is willing to cooperate with investigators. No charges have been filed, and the inquiry is expected to focus on whether the donations constituted illicit payments or legitimate gifts.