The uproar after France’s win over Paraguay continues to boil over as Kylian Mbappé reacts to racist abuse from Paraguayan senator
Kylian Mbappé has hit back at the Paraguayan senator who sparked a racist uproar after France’s World Cup win. (Image: Getty Images)
French star Kylian Mbappé has slammed Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla’s position as “despicable and worthless” following vile racist remarks on social media. The Real Madrid star scored the only goal in Les Bleus’ 1-0 victory over the South American team in the Round of 16.
It was a sour game where Didier Deschamps’ side fought through an ugly display, with the Paraguayans miraculously escaping without a yellow card despite an ill-advised attack on the World Cup favorites. France will face Morocco in the quarter-finals, but the aftermath of Saturday’s encounter continues.
Mr. Amarilla is a senator from the Paraguayan Liberal Radical Party, and government officials have not hidden their anger even after Paraguay’s withdrawal. The 61-year-old launched a vile attack on social media with a series of vitriolic social media posts aimed at Mbappé, including foul language and racial overtones.
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Mbappe said this against Amarilla, days after France surged towards a place in the World Cup semi-finals. He tweeted: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a vile woman and do not deserve your position.
“You do not represent Paraguay, who sweated passion and honor throughout the tournament. Through your recklessness and brazen racism, the whole world has already forgotten the journey and historic efforts of our players in this World Cup, giving way to an incompetent woman who brings the worst image of her country.”
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread hatred and racism around the world.”
Kylian Mbappé was the target of the Paraguayan defense in the round of 16 battle. (Image: Getty Images)
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s comments as “completely abhorrent and unacceptable” and announced that they would refer the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings.
They said in a tweet: “The racist comments made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé are completely abhorrent and unacceptable. How could such comments be made? These comments are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here and elsewhere. FFF will refer this matter to the Public Prosecutor’s Office with a view to legal proceedings.”
“The federation fully supports the captain, the players, and more broadly all victims of such hate speech. FFF remains committed, now more than ever, to combating racism and all forms of discrimination. These statements bring shame to those who say them and those who spread them. The players of the French national team represent France, and it is our country that is being insulted.”
“Amarilla’s social media activity towards Mbappé does not appear to be an isolated incident. She threatened to become an avid fan before expressing her disdain for the footballer, which led to her being warned not to be allowed into the stadium.”
The aftermath of the ugly encounter in New York reached the media with accusations by Deschamps that he was insulted after the win.
Meanwhile, former Paraguay national team goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilabert caused a race uproar before the match when he said that the favorite team to win the tournament was “a team from Africa.”
French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo subsequently condemned the 60-year-old former shot-stopper’s claims.
“Jose Luis Chilabert’s racist comments against the French national team undermine our football values of respect, fraternity and diversity, and we condemn them in the strongest possible terms,” Diallo said on social media.
“If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man is now a disgrace.”
