France captain, Kylian Mbappe has branded Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla a “despicable woman” after she launched a racist attack against him following Paraguay’s World Cup exit, as the French Football Federation (FFF) announced it would file a criminal complaint over her remarks.
The dispute erupted after Mbappe’s penalty secured France a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup round of 16 on Saturday, sending the French into the quarter-finals.
In a lengthy post on X, Amarilla described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” called him a “brute” and suggested Paraguay’s players should have slapped him after the match.
Responding on Monday, Mbappe accused the senator of spreading hatred and racism, saying she was “unworthy” of her office and did not represent Paraguay or its people.
“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,” Mbappe wrote.
He added that her “brazen racism” had overshadowed Paraguay’s World Cup campaign and vowed never to allow “people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
The French Football Federation escalated the matter by announcing it would file a criminal complaint with French prosecutors, calling Amarilla’s comments “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”
“These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere,” the federation said, adding that the insults targeted not only Mbappe but France itself.
Paraguay’s government distanced itself from the senator’s remarks, saying it “deplores and rejects” the statements and stressing they reflected only Amarilla’s personal views, not those of the government or the Paraguayan people.
French President, Emmanuel Macron also backed Mbappe, writing on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support.”
Paraguayan Congress president, Basilio Nunez likewise condemned the remarks, saying they did not reflect the country’s values and rejecting racism, xenophobia and incitement to violence.
France assistant coach, Guy Stephan described the comments as “disgraceful, vile, outrageous,” adding that the team had not yet discussed the incident with Mbappe.
