Mbappé’s Mother Imposes Phone Ban at Caen, Sparks National Debate

In an unprecedented move that has ignited broad debate across French football circles, Faïza El Ammari, mother of French star Kylian Mbappé, enforced a strict ban on mobile phone use across all facilities of Malherbe Caen—the club in which her son holds the majority ownership stake.

The widely circulated French daily L’Équipe reported that El Ammari implemented the decision to strengthen youth development at the club and foster greater cohesion and coexistence among players, removing digital distractions caused by smartphones. The newspaper did not specify any formal title or administrative role held by El Ammari within the club, which suffered a painful relegation to the third division last season.

Official Praise for a Bold Decision

Mathieu Bodmer, Caen’s newly appointed sporting director, quickly commended El Ammari’s decision, describing it as a strategic step in the right direction toward building a stronger future for the club.

In media remarks, Bodmer said: “The Mbappé family’s project with young players deeply interests me. If you saw what is being implemented in education, housing, nutrition, and humanitarian support, you would grasp the scale of effort underway.”

He added enthusiastically: “Faïza has imposed a total ban on mobile phone use inside the training center—a wonderful and bold decision that has led young players to communicate, interact, and live together far more effectively than before.”

A 15-Million-Euro Investment

Kylian Mbappé—currently a Real Madrid forward—acquired the majority ownership of Caen in September 2024. Through his investment fund “QualiShun Capital,” he injected €15 million to purchase 80% of the club’s shares. He also settled a substantial portion of its accumulated debt. The remaining 20% is owned by Pierre-Antoine Capton, the club’s current board chairman.

Fans Level Sharp Criticism

However, Mbappé and his family face a wave of sharp criticism from angry Malherbe Caen supporters, who hold them fully responsible for the club’s dramatic relegation to the third division—an historic collapse widely regarded as one of the worst disasters in the storied club’s history.

In response to these intense criticisms, Bodmer stated: “I find these criticisms entirely unfair—not only because Kylian is the club’s principal owner, but because serious difficulties already existed before the Mbappé family’s arrival. Yes, what happened is the natural result of accumulated errors over years, as occurs in all clubs facing crises. I deeply respect his courageous investment at a time when conditions were extremely complex and fraught with risk.”

A Professional Relationship Without Direct Intervention

When asked about his direct working relationship with Mbappé—whom Bodmer played alongside at Malherbe Caen between 1998 and 2003—he confirmed he had not spoken directly with Mbappé since assuming his new position.

He clarified confidently: “The day we truly need to communicate, it will happen naturally and spontaneously. Kylian has an exceptional football career that he must manage and focus on. For me, my greatest satisfaction and highest goal is to tell Kylian: ‘Listen, don’t worry about us at all—we will handle matters with full competence and professionalism.’”

The De Facto Director Behind the Scenes

L’Équipe further confirmed that Bodmer maintains significantly smoother and more flexible communication with Faïza El Ammari than with Mbappé himself. The newspaper noted that El Ammari dedicates considerable time and tangible effort to the day-to-day management of Malherbe Caen, positioning her as the most influential figure in strategic decision-making at the club—even though her official title remains unclear.