Kylian Mbappe and the French Football Federation (FFF) have strongly condemned racist remarks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup round of 16. Mbappe described Amarilla as a 'despicable woman' unworthy of her position, while the FFF announced it is filing a report with the prosecutor's office for judicial action.
Mbappe's response to racist comments
In a post on X, Mbappe wrote: 'Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.'
Amarilla had called Mbappe a 'colonised Cameroonian' and 'pretending hard to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant, and ugly.' She also claimed France 'won by a fluke' and that Mbappe was 'nervous and scared to death the whole match.' In a separate comment on a photo of Mbappe celebrating near Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, she wrote that Mbappe 'sucked on coconuts instead of mother's milk and the most educated thing he heard was chimpanzees.'
FFF takes legal action
The French Football Federation issued a statement saying: 'The racist remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappe are utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. How can anyone make such statements? These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is filing a report with the prosecutor's office for the purpose of judicial action.'
The FFF extended its support to Mbappe and 'the victim of such odious remarks everywhere,' adding: 'Now more than ever, the FFF is committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination. These remarks dishonour those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the France National Team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.'
World Cup context
Mbappe, with seven goals in the tournament, is tied with Argentina's Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot. France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on July 10.
