France forward Kylian Mbappe has described a Paraguayan senator as “despicable” and “unworthy” of her position, Yankee Scores reports.
Mbappe’s condemnation followed series of racist comments mocking his origin and education.
Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party’s Celeste Amarilla posted her comments on X after her country’s defeat to France in the World Cup last 16.
“Despicable and Unworthy”
Mbappe responded: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.
“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.”
The FFF Invokes Legal Warfare
The French football federation (FFF) said it would file criminal charges and said Amarilla’s comments were “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.
In a statement, the FFF said: “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is reporting the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings.
“These remarks bring shame upon those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”
Mbappe scored a penalty to win the second half of Saturday’s tie, setting up a quarter-final against Morocco in Boston on Thursday.
Mbappe is level with the leading scorers in this year’s tournament on seven goals, along with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland.
Amarilla’s comments follow Paraguay’s former goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert saying before the match that his country were facing “a squad from Africa”.
The comments also drew a reaction from FFF president Philippe Diallo, who called Chilavert a ‘disgrace’.
