Kylian Mbappe has condemned Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for a 'despicable' racist rant on social media after France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup last-16. Mbappe scored the decisive penalty in the 70th minute of a heated match in Philadelphia, which saw Paraguay's physical tactics widely criticized.
Racist Remarks Spark Outrage
Days after former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert caused uproar by calling France an 'African team', Amarilla posted a shocking message on X. Reacting to a photo of Mbappe celebrating near Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, she wrote: 'The brute didn't even learn to write. Instead of mother's milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees. You should've shown him the finger, Orlando Gill; I do it in the senate and nothing happens!!!'
Mbappe's Defiant Response
Mbappe responded on X, calling Amarilla 'a despicable woman and unworthy of your position'. He added: 'You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. 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, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.'
FFP Condemns Pre-Match Remarks
The French Football Federation also condemned Chilavert's pre-match remarks, with president Philippe Diallo stating: 'I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by Jose Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football. If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.'
World Cup Progress
France, runners-up in 2022, face Morocco in the quarter-finals on Thursday, with the winner meeting either Portugal, Spain, Belgium or the USA. Mbappe is the joint-top scorer at the tournament with seven goals, alongside Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi.
