Kylian Mbappe Responds After Racist Attack From Paraguayan Senator

Kylian Mbappe has condemned racist comments made after France defeated Paraguay at the World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe racism row has drawn international attention after the France captain responded to comments from Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following Paraguay’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup. Mbappe described her remarks as unacceptable and defended both himself and Paraguay’s players.

Mbappe scored the winning penalty as France national team defeated Paraguay 1-0 in a physical and heated Round of 16 match in Philadelphia on Saturday. The result sent France into the quarterfinals, but the game was followed by controversy after Amarilla posted a series of racist comments on X.

https://x.com/KMbappe/status/2074188157763875267?s=20

She referred to Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” and made further personal attacks against the forward. She also suggested Paraguay’s players should have confronted him after the match.

The Kylian Mbappe racism row intensified when the France captain issued a strong response. “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: “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.

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) later announced plans to file a criminal complaint, calling the comments “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”. The Paraguayan government also rejected Amarilla’s statements, saying they did not represent the country’s values.

French officials, including President Emmanuel Macron’s office, expressed support for Mbappe, while France assistant coach Guy Stephan called the comments “disgraceful, vile, outrageous”.

Should football organisations take stronger action against racist remarks from public figures?