Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Paraguay v France – Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. – July 4, 2026 France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after the match. Image @ Reuters/James Lang
A racist outburst by a Paraguayan senator aimed at Kylian Mbappe has sparked international condemnation, with French President Emmanuel Macron, Paraguay’s government and football authorities denouncing the comments after the France captain called the lawmaker a “despicable woman.”
The controversy followed France’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in a tense World Cup last-16 clash in Philadelphia on Saturday. Mbappe scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute, taking his tournament tally to seven and moving ahead of Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
On Monday, Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, a member of the Liberal Radical Party, posted a racially charged message on X. She described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” called him a “brute” who never learned to write, and suggested Paraguay’s players should have slapped him after the match. In another post, she said goalkeeper Orlando Gill should have shown the French star the middle finger.
Mbappe responded with a strongly worded statement.
“Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has shown passion and honour throughout this World Cup.”
He went on to accuse the senator of tarnishing her country’s achievements.
“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
The French Football Federation responded swiftly, announcing it would file a criminal complaint and describing Amarilla’s remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”
In a statement, the federation said: “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings. These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France. It is our country that is being insulted.”
France assistant coach Guy Stephan also condemned the comments.
“We haven’t spoken with Kylian yet. We haven’t had the opportunity. But in three words: it’s disgraceful, vile, outrageous.”
Head coach Didier Deschamps had earlier criticised Paraguay’s style of play during the match, saying the team used “every trick in the book.” Paraguay, which eliminated Germany in the previous round, finished the game without receiving a single yellow card.
Paraguay’s government quickly distanced itself from Amarilla’s remarks, saying it “deplores and rejects” the statements because they run counter to the country’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity. Officials stressed that the senator’s comments reflected her personal views and did not represent the government or the Paraguayan people.
Vice President Pedro Alliana said football should unite people and nations, adding that there is no place for discrimination in the sport. National Congress President Basilio Nunez also condemned the remarks.
“As President of the National Congress, I strongly reject racist, xenophobic messages and those that incite violence against any person. The Paraguayan national team gave their all with honour and grit at the World Cup. Politics and sports should be kept separate.”
The dispute also reached the highest levels of the French government. Macron’s office said Paraguay’s president had written to express support and condemn Amarilla’s comments.
Macron later posted on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity.”
With the French Football Federation preparing legal action, the fallout from Amarilla’s comments appears set to continue long after the final whistle, even as France shifts its focus to the World Cup quarter-finals.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah