French soccer star Kylian Mbappe has condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist comments directed at him following France’s World Cup victory over Paraguay, as the French Football Federation filed a complaint seeking a hate crime investigation.
The controversy began after France defeated Paraguay 1-0 on July 4 in Philadelphia, with Mbappe scoring the winning goal from a 70th-minute penalty. A photo showing Mbappe celebrating in front of Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill later circulated online.
Paraguayan Sen. Celeste Amarilla, a member of the Liberal Radical Party, responded with a series of posts targeting Mbappe on social media. She described him as a "brute" and claimed he grew up "sucking on coconuts" instead of breast milk. She also wrote that the most educated creatures she knew were chimpanzees.
Amarilla additionally said Gill should have shown Mbappe the middle finger, adding that she does it in the senate and "nothing happens."
In another post on Instagram, Amarilla called Mbappe "a colonized Cameroonian pretending to be French." She accused him of being resentful, newly rich, arrogant and ugly, while criticizing Paraguay’s players for not confronting him after the match.
Mbappe responded on X Monday, defending Paraguay’s national team while slamming Amarilla’s statements.
"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition," Mbappe wrote. He added that Amarilla's "recklessness and your brazen racism" had caused the world to forget Paraguay's historic World Cup run, saying she had become "an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country."
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s remarks and announced it had filed a complaint with prosecutors. Federation President Philippe Diallo described the comments as "vile, criminal and reprehensible" and said the organization fully supports Mbappe, who serves as France’s captain. The federation requested a formal investigation into the senator’s posts.
The controversy began after France defeated Paraguay 1-0 on July 4 in Philadelphia, with Mbappe scoring the winning goal from a 70th-minute penalty. A photo showing Mbappe celebrating in front of Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill later circulated online.
Paraguayan Sen. Celeste Amarilla, a member of the Liberal Radical Party, responded with a series of posts targeting Mbappe on social media. She described him as a "brute" and claimed he grew up "sucking on coconuts" instead of breast milk. She also wrote that the most educated creatures she knew were chimpanzees.
Amarilla additionally said Gill should have shown Mbappe the middle finger, adding that she does it in the senate and "nothing happens."
In another post on Instagram, Amarilla called Mbappe "a colonized Cameroonian pretending to be French." She accused him of being resentful, newly rich, arrogant and ugly, while criticizing Paraguay’s players for not confronting him after the match.
Mbappe responded on X Monday, defending Paraguay’s national team while slamming Amarilla’s statements.
"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition," Mbappe wrote. He added that Amarilla's "recklessness and your brazen racism" had caused the world to forget Paraguay's historic World Cup run, saying she had become "an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country."
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s remarks and announced it had filed a complaint with prosecutors. Federation President Philippe Diallo described the comments as "vile, criminal and reprehensible" and said the organization fully supports Mbappe, who serves as France’s captain. The federation requested a formal investigation into the senator’s posts.
