Nurmagomedov, a devout Muslim, has issued several posts amid a row over religion and free speech after two terrorist attacks in France, including one in which he posted a picture of Macron with a boot print across his face. 

“May the Almighty disfigure the face of this scum and all his followers, who, under the slogan of freedom of speech, offend the feelings of more than one and a half billion Muslim believers. May the Almighty humiliate them in this life, and in the next. Allah is quick in calculation and you will see it,” wrote the UFC lightweight champion. 

In another post, the Russian said “may Allah unleash His punishment on everyone who encroaches on the honor of [the Prophet Muhammad]."

The footballer was reportedly one of several French players to “like” the latter message, along with Karim Benzema, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Ricardo Faty and Mamadou Sakho, as well as Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic and former Manchester United and Real Madrid star David Beckham.

Kimpembe, who has been criticized for doing so, issued a tweet on Saturday in which he said he did not want to be drawn into politics and suggested there may also have been a linguistic misunderstanding.

“I play sports, not politics,” he said. “I don’t speak Russian either. I strongly condemn terrorism, all forms of violence without reservation, and all nauseating attempts at manipulation.”