French Football Federation mulls legal action after Paraguay senator’s racist remarks about Mbappe
The French Football Federation (FFF) says racist remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting France striker Kylian Mbappe must be prosecuted.
Multiple statements, shared on an X account attributed to Amarilla following Paraguay’s 0-1 loss to France on July 4, took aim at the French captain, who is black and of Cameroonian descent.
The FFF described the comments, as ”utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. ”
“How can anyone make such statements? These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The FFF is filing a report with the prosecutor’s office for the purpose of judicial action,” it said.
The federation extended “its full support to its captain, its players, and more generally to all victims of such odious remarks”, noting that now more than ever, the FFF is committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.
“These remarks dishonour those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the France National Team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted,” it said.
The country’s Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life, Marina Ferrari, said she was “outraged” by the remarks.
“These remarks are abhorrent, unworthy, and all the more unacceptable given that they come from a political figure. In the face of racism, we will not remain silent. By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the senator is attacking everything our captain embodies and everything our country stands for: liberty, equality, and fraternity,” she said in a post translated to English.
In solidarity with Ferrari, Paraguayan Congresswoman Johanna Ortega expressed disappointment in her colleague.
“Passion can never justify racism or hate speech. Paraguay maintains a relationship of respect and cooperation with France that is not reflected in these statements. The sport that filled us with such pride in this World Cup deserves to be free of such discourse,” she noted, adding, “Racism has no place in sports or in politics… my solidarity and my apologies to the French people.”
Mbappe himself on Monday condemned the comments in an X post addressed to Amarilla, chastening her for dishonouring Paraguay’s World Cup journey.
