FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and French President, Emmanuel Macron, have condemned racist remarks directed at France captain, Kylian Mbappe, by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla following France’s victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has also announced plans to file a criminal complaint over the comments, describing them as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”
The controversy followed France’s win over Paraguay, with Mbappe scoring the decisive penalty to send his side into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Macron, FIFA condemn racist remarks
Macron voiced his support for the France forward in a post on X, describing Amarilla’s comments as racist.
“Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words defile, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity. @KMbappe.”
Infantino also condemned the remarks, calling for unity in the fight against racism.
“All of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain; we need to fight racism and defeat it all together.”
Controversy after France-Paraguay match
The incident stemmed from France’s Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, during which Mbappe converted the winning penalty.
After the final whistle, television footage appeared to show Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill attempting to shake Mbappe’s hand before throwing the ball towards the France captain.
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Gill later explained the incident.
He said, “I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper.”
Reacting to a video of Gill discussing the exchange, Amarilla published a series of posts on X in which she questioned Mbappe’s French identity and made racist remarks about his background.
Mbappe, who was born in Paris to a Cameroonian father and a French-Algerian mother, responded by condemning the senator.
“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,” Mbappe said.
French Football Federation to pursue legal action
The FFF said it would refer the matter to French prosecutors.
In a statement, the federation 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.”
FFF president, Philippe Diallo, also condemned similar comments made before the match by former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert, who had referred to France as “a squad from Africa.”
“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,” he said.
Mbappe’s winning penalty secured France’s place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco in Boston.
The forward has scored seven goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Norway’s Erling Haaland at the top of the tournament’s scoring chart.
