France striker and captain Kylian Mbappe has condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after she launched a racist attack against him. The incident followed France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, where Mbappe's penalty proved the difference to send France to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Senator Amarilla posted a long, slur-filled tirade on X, describing Mbappe as a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French" and a "brute who had not learned to write." She further suggested that Paraguay's players should have slapped the striker after the match.
Mbappe responded on Monday, calling Amarilla a "despicable woman" who is "unworthy of her position." He stated that she does not represent Paraguay, a country that has shown passion and honour during the competition. Mbappe added that her brazen racism overshadows the historic effort of the Paraguayan players and vowed that he would never allow people like her the freedom to spread hatred and racism across the world.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has described the remarks as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable," calling them criminal and reprehensible. The FFF announced plans to report the matter to the public prosecutor's office to pursue legal proceedings, stating that the insults are directed at the country France itself. The remarks also sparked condemnation from French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron.