Amarilla called Mbappé a “colonized Cameroonian” after France eliminated Paraguay from the World Cup with a penalty.
Published July 6, 2026
France forward Kylian Mbappé and his country’s football federation have hit back at a Paraguayan senator who launched a racist attack against the player following Paraguay’s exit from the World Cup.
The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Monday that it would submit a report to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to pursuing legal action against Paraguayan Celeste Amarilla, shortly after Mbappé reacted on social media to her abusive comments.
Mbappe, who led France at the World Cup as captain and top scorer, described Amarilla as a “despicable woman” and FFF called her abuse “absolutely abhorrent and unacceptable”.
The 27-year-old’s penalty proved the difference in a bruising and moody match as France won 1-0 in Philadelphia on Saturday to advance to the quarter-finals.
Amarilla wrote a lengthy racist rant filled with slurs about X, describing Mbappé as “a colonized Cameroonian desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and a “savage” who had never learned to write. She added that the Paraguayan players should have slapped him after the match.
In response, Mbappé issued a strongly worded statement defending not only himself but the Paraguayan players.
“Mrs. Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, who sweated passion and honor throughout the Games,” he wrote.
“Through your recklessness and brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and historic efforts made by our players during this World Cup, giving way to an incompetent woman who will tarnish the image of her country in the worst way possible.
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread hatred and racism around the world.”
FFF said it stands with Mbappé, the French player and “all victims of such disgusting comments”, adding that the comments were “criminal and reprehensible”.
“They (remarks) must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. FFF has submitted a report to the public prosecutor’s office for the purpose of judicial proceedings.”
“These statements defame the people who made them and those who spread them. The players of the French national team represent France. It is our country that is being insulted.”
France will face Morocco in the first quarterfinal on Thursday in Boston. Les Bleus last won the title in 2018 and finished runners-up to Argentina at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
