Kylian Mbappe condemns Paraguayan senator over racist remarks

France star Kylian Mbappé on Monday condemned a Paraguayan senator over racist remarks she made following Paraguay’s loss to France within the round of 16 on the World Cup.

Mbappé called Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the whole world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players achieved during this World Cup,” Mbappé wrote on X.

Amarilla posted a series of racist comments on X after Mbappé converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday, mocking the French captain’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance. France advanced to the quarterfinals, where it is going to face Morocco on Thursday.

Late Monday, Amarilla issued an open letter in French and Spanish to Mbappé on social media, during which she said her problem was with the player, not the country of France. She wrote that she regretted mistreating Mbappé with “the identical insults” she’s received as a mixed-race person and that she had deleted her post.

But she also demanded an apology from Mbappé, accusing him of gender-based violence in his comments about her, and threatening legal motion if he didn’t retract them.

The Associated Press emailed France’s team media officers for comment on Amarilla’s letter.

The Paraguayan government released a press release Monday afternoon condemning Amarilla’s remarks as “contrary to the values and principles that encourage peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.” It added that the senator’s comments don’t represent either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.

The French Football Federation on Monday denounced Amarilla’s comments as “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable,” adding that it could refer the matter to prosecutors.

France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, and sports minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for the national team’s captain.

“By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the senator is attacking the whole lot our captain embodies and the whole lot our country stands for: liberty, equality and fraternity,” Ferrari wrote on X.

“Yet one more goal for Kylian Mbappé. This time against racism,” Macron wrote on X, adding the captain had his “full support.”

France’s assistant coach Guy Stéphan also condemned the remarks on Monday.

“In three words, it’s indignant, abject, scandalous,” he said.

Before Saturday’s match, former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert referred to France as “a squad from Africa.” Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF, said Chilavert “was once an incredible goalkeeper” who had now “fallen into disgrace.”