The Belgian FA have issued an apology after sharing a video to their official social media channels in which Amadou Onana chants about tackling Kylian Mbappe's shin. Belgium and France are two days out from a blockbuster last-16 clash at Euro 2024, in which Everton star Onana and Real Madrid's Mbappe will go head-to-head.
Both teams are ranked inside FIFA's top three but they underwhelmed during the group stages. France were beaten to top spot in Group D by underdogs Austria, while Belgium were second to Romania after losing to Slovakia and drawing with Ukraine.
Managers Domenico Tedesco and Didier Deschamps will hope to put their poor runs of form behind them in Dusseldorf, where Onana and Mbappe are both nailed-on to start.
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With kick-off approaching, Belgium's social media team poked fun at France by posting a video featuring Onana and comedian Pablo Andres. In it, the pair's chant translates to: "Who is going to make tackle Mbappe in the shin? Onana, Amadou Onana!"
But after receiving backlash, Belgium's press officer Stefan Van Loock felt compelled to issue the following public apology: "A video was posted yesterday (Friday) on social networks in which Amadou Onana talks about tackling Mbappe on the shin.
"The Federation has been working with Pablo Andres for several years now. The one published on our networks was also humorous. We apologise if anyone may have been offended."
Belgium arrived at Euro 2024 in electric form. Prior to defeat against Slovakia in their opening game, they had never been beaten under manager Tedesco, with their last loss coming against Morocco at the 2022 World Cup.
But tensions between Red Devils players and their fans appear to be on a knife-edge. After a goalless draw with Ukraine in their final group game, Kevin De Bruyne led his team-mates off the pitch early to stop them applauding their booing supporters.
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"We tried to win the match," De Bruyne said in an indirect message to fans after the game. "We had goal-scoring opportunities, but we didn't take any risks with the corner because we knew we might concede a goal.
"If that happens, you're out of the Euros. It's a shame we didn't manage to score before - we had opportunities - and after that we just need the fans to stay with us. We need these fans. We'll need them against France. That's all I have to say."
