MIAMI – Kylian Mbappe sharply condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla on Monday, calling her a “despicable woman” after she posted a racist attack directed at him following Paraguay’s World Cup exit.
The France forward scored the decisive penalty in a tense, physical contest on Saturday, giving France a 1-0 victory in Philadelphia and sending the defending finalists into the quarter-finals.
After the match, Amarilla published a lengthy racist post on X in which she questioned Mbappe’s French identity, referred to his Cameroonian heritage and insulted his intelligence.
She also suggested Paraguay’s players should have struck him after the final whistle.
Mbappe, who captains France, issued a forceful response, defending both himself and the Paraguayan team while denouncing Amarilla’s remarks.
“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,” he wrote.
He added that Amarilla’s “recklessness” and “brazen racism” had overshadowed the achievement of Paraguay’s players, saying their historic World Cup run was being eclipsed by “an incompetent woman” who had projected the worst image of her country.
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world,” Mbappe said.
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
The French Football Federation (FFF) escalated the matter, announcing plans to file a criminal complaint, describing her remarks as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”
“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,” it said.
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“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.”
The Paraguayan government said it “deplores and rejects the statements” made by Amarilla, saying they are “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.”
“The statements of the aforementioned legislator correspond exclusively to the exercise of her individual responsibility as a member of the Legislative Branch and in no way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people,” it said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said the Paraguayan president had written to him to express support and condemned the remarks.
Macron on Tuesday offered words of support for the captain. “Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity,” he said in a post on X.
Basilio Nunez, the leader of the South American country’s legislature, said the comments do not represent the “genuine values” of Paraguayans.
“As President of the National Congress, I strongly reject racist, xenophobic messages and those that incite violence against any person,” Nunez said.
“The Paraguayan national team gave their all with honour and grit at the World Cup. Politics and sports should be kept separate.”
France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan said: “We haven’t spoken with Kylian yet, haven’t had the opportunity.
“But in three words: it’s disgraceful, vile, outrageous.”
