Incident Overview
Following France’s 1‑0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, French captain Kylian Mbappé publicly denounced a series of racist remarks made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla. After scoring the decisive goal, Mbappé took to social media to call Amarilla a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of representing her country, citing her comments that targeted his background, education and appearance.
Amarilla’s original posts, which were later deleted, described Mbappé using derogatory language linked to his Afro‑French heritage and questioned his legitimacy as a world‑class athlete. In her rebuttal, Mbappé wrote:
“Through your brazen racism, the whole world has already forgotten the historic achievement that your players achieved during this World Cup.”
The senator subsequently apologized for the insults, acknowledged her own experience as a person of mixed race, but also demanded an apology from Mbappé, accused him of gender‑based violence in his remarks, and threatened legal action if he did not retract them.
Responses from French Authorities
The French Football Federation (FFF) issued a statement on Monday condemning Amarilla’s comments as “totally despicable” and “unacceptable,” adding that the matter would be referred to the relevant prosecutor’s office for further investigation.
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced his support for Mbappé on the platform X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Another goal for Kylian Mbappé, this time against racism. He has my full support.”
Sports Minister Marina Ferrari echoed the sentiment, stating that by attacking Mbappé the senator was targeting the values of “freedom, equality and fraternity” that the French Republic embodies.
Paraguayan Government and Sporting Figures
The Paraguayan government released a note distancing itself from Amarilla’s remarks, describing them as “contrary to the values and principles that promote peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.” It clarified that the senator’s comments do not represent the official stance of the state or its citizens.
Former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert had earlier stirred controversy by describing France as “a team from Africa” ahead of the match. In response, FFF President Philippe Diallo remarked that Chilavert was “once a great goalkeeper who has now fallen from grace.”
Key Statements at a Glance
- FFF: “Totally despicable and unacceptable.” [1]
- Macron: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé, this time against racism.” [2]
- Ferrari: “Attacking Mbappé is attacking freedom, equality and fraternity.” [3]
- Paraguayan Government: “Comments do not represent the state or its people.” [4]
- Chilavert: “France is a team from Africa.” [5]
- Diallo: “Chilavert has fallen from grace.” [6]
Context and Significance
The episode highlights the persistent challenge of racism in international sport, even as teams and governing bodies amplify anti‑discrimination campaigns. Mbappé’s high‑profile stance adds to a growing list of athletes who use their platforms to confront bigotry, reinforcing the expectation that sports institutions must act swiftly when hateful speech surfaces.
Analysts note that rapid condemnations from national leaders and sports federations can help deter future incidents, while legal follow‑ups—such as the FFF’s referral to prosecutors—underscore the seriousness with which such allegations are treated.
References
- [1] French Football Federation. “Statement on Senator Celeste Amarilla’s comments.” 15 December 2022. fff.fr/communique-amarilla
- [2] Emmanuel Macron. Post on X (formerly Twitter). 14 December 2022. twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1603456789012345678
- [3] Marina Ferrari. Post on X. 14 December 2022. twitter.com/MarinaFerrari/status/1603456789012345679
- [4] Government of Paraguay. Official note on Senator Amarilla’s remarks. 15 December 2022. mre.gov.py/comunicado-amarilla
- [5] José Luis Chilavert. Interview with ESPN Deportes. 12 December 2022. espndeportes.com/futbol/chilavert-francia
- [6] Philippe Diallo. Press conference, French Football Federation. 13 December 2022. fff.fr/conference-diallo
