The Remarks and Mbappé’s Response
Amarilla posted a series of comments on X after Paraguay’s elimination, mocking Mbappé’s Cameroonian heritage and referring to him as a “colonised Cameroonian.” The posts, which also targeted the striker’s upbringing, appearance, and education, were later deleted. aljazeera.com latimes.com nytimes.com
On Monday, Mbappé responded on social media: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.” He added: “Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup.” euronews.com aljazeera.com
International Condemnation
FIFA President Gianni Infantino issued a statement on Monday: “I unequivocally condemn the racist comments directed at Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla. All of football and society” must stand against racism. The UN Human Rights Office called the remarks “despicable yet not isolated,” urging states and sports organizations to combat racial discrimination, while also calling on social media companies to address xenophobic abuse on their platforms. aa.com.tr ohchr.org instagram.com facebook.com
Real Madrid issued a statement of solidarity with their player. The French Football Federation filed a criminal complaint, and on Tuesday the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed it had opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence. The Paraguayan government also expressed its disapproval of Amarilla’s comments. washingtonpost.com latimes.com nytimes.com sports.yahoo.com
Amarilla Doubles Down
In a remarkable turn on Tuesday, Amarilla posted an open letter retracting her racial slurs but demanding an apology from Mbappé and threatening legal action against him for what she termed “gender-based violence,” according to ESPN. The move drew further criticism and widespread disbelief across international media. espn.com
The controversy has overshadowed France’s preparations for the World Cup quarterfinals, though Mbappé — who scored the match-winning penalty in the 70th minute against Paraguay — has said he remains focused on the tournament. espn.com espn.com
