France football star Kylian Mbappé has condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following her racist remarks after Paraguay’s loss to France in the round of 16 at the World Cup. The match, held on Saturday in Philadelphia, ended with Mbappé scoring the only goal through a penalty, securing France’s advancement to the quarter-finals where they are set to face Morocco.
Amarilla, a member of Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments on the social media platform X, which included personal attacks on Mbappé’s origins, upbringing, education, and appearance. Among her remarks, she referred to Mbappé as a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French" and described him as a "brute" who had not learned to write. Amarilla went further by suggesting that Paraguay’s players should have physically confronted Mbappé after the match.
In response, Mbappé strongly denounced the senator, calling her a “despicable woman” unworthy of her role in Paraguay’s Congress. He emphasized that Amarilla’s comments overshadowed the efforts and passion demonstrated by the Paraguayan team throughout the tournament. “The entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup,” Mbappé stated.
The Paraguayan government later issued a statement distancing itself from Amarilla’s remarks, saying that her comments contradict the nation’s values and principles that promote peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity. The statement underscored that Amarilla’s views do not represent either the government or the Paraguayan people.
The French Football Federation condemned the senator’s statements as “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable” and announced plans to involve legal authorities to pursue potential criminal charges. This move highlights the seriousness with which France is treating the incident.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari publicly expressed support for Mbappé and criticized the senator’s attack. Ferrari wrote that by targeting Mbappé, the senator was attacking the values of liberty, equality, and fraternity that France represents. Macron echoed this sentiment, stating the captain had his full support and celebrating Mbappé’s stand against racism.
France’s assistant coach Guy Stéphan also joined the chorus of condemnation, describing Amarilla’s remarks as “indignant, abject, scandalous.”
The incident has sparked broad discussions on racism in sports and the responsibilities of public officials, particularly in the context of international sporting events. France prepares to face Morocco in the quarter-finals later this week.