France striker Kylian Mbappe hit back at a Paraguayan senator, describing her as a “despicable woman” on Monday after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay’s elimination from the World Cup.
Mbappe’s penalty proved the difference in a nail-biting and bad-tempered match as France won 1-0 in Philadelphia on Saturday to progress to the quarter-finals.
Celeste Amarilla wrote a long, racist rant about
Paraguay’s players should have punched him after the match, she added.
Mbappe, the France captain, responded with a strongly worded statement defending not only himself but also the Paraguayan players.
«Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, the country that sweated passion and honor during the competition,» he wrote.
“Because of your recklessness and blatant racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and historic effort your players made during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.
“I will never give people like them the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
CRIMINAL COMPLAINT
The French Football Federation (FFF) escalated the matter and announced plans to file a criminal complaint, describing her comments as “completely abhorrent and unacceptable”.
«These comments are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF reports the matter to the Public Prosecution Service for legal proceedings,» the report said.
READ ALSO | Mystery of Paraguay’s World Cup defeat against France without a yellow card
«These comments bring shame to those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is insulted.»
The Paraguayan government said it “deplores and rejects the statements” made by Amarilla, saying they are “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.”
“The statements made by the above-mentioned legislator correspond solely to the exercise of her individual responsibility as a member of the legislature and do not in any way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people,” the report said in a statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron’s office said the Paraguayan president had written to him to express his support and condemned the comments.
Basilio Nunez, the leader of the legislature, said the comments did not represent the «real values» of Paraguayans.
“As President of the National Congress, I strongly reject racist, xenophobic messages and messages that incite violence against anyone,” Nunez said.
«The Paraguayan national team gave everything with honor and courage during the World Cup. Politics and sports must be kept separate.»
France assistant coach Guy Stephan said: “We haven’t spoken to Kylian yet, we haven’t had the chance yet.
“But in three words: it is disgraceful, vile, scandalous.”
Published on July 7, 2026
