• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Mbappe accused of racism by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla.
  2. French President Emmanuel Macron supported Mbappe against discriminatory remarks.
  3. Paraguayan government condemned senator's statements as against values.

France reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Paraguay 1-0, but the biggest controversy emerged after the match ended. A heated exchange involving France captain Kylian Mbappe and Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill soon turned into a wider dispute after Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made controversial remarks targetting the French footballer on social media.

Mbappe Responds After Paraguay Senator’s Remarks

Amarilla’s comments drew a strong response from Mbappe, French President Emmanuel Macron and condemnation from Paraguay’s government. Mbappe accused her of making racist remarks in a series of posts on X. Amarilla’s statements included racial references and criticism of the France captain’s performance during the match.

She called Mbappe a “colonised Cameroonian” and accused him of “pretending hard to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant and ugly.” She also claimed that France “won by a fluke” and said Mbappe was “nervous and scared to death” during the match. Mbappe, whose father is originally from Cameroon (a county in Central Africa) responded strongly to the comments.

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He called Amarilla “despicable” and said she was not worthy of her position as a senator. “Mrs Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and not worthy of your position…You do not represent Paraguay, the country that has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. Through your lack of awareness and your uninhibited racism, the entire world has already forgotten your team's run and historic effort at this World Cup,” Mbappe wrote on X.

Macron Backs Mbappe

French President Emmanuel Macron also supported Mbappe’s response and condemned the comments directed at him. Macron said Mbappe had scored “another goal”, this time against racism. Macron praised him for taking a stand against discriminatory remarks.

How The Controversy Started?

The controversy followed a tense Round of 16 clash between France and Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday. The match saw strong physical battles and several confrontations between players. After France secured a 1-0 victory, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill reportedly approached Mbappe to shake hands. However, the French captain ignored and walked away.

Gill then threw the ball towards the France captain, creating another heated moment after the match. He later said that Mbappe did not respond to the gesture, which led to frustration. “I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn't pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill said. The controversy escalated further after Amarilla’s racist remarks targetting Mbappe on social media.

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Paraguay Government Condemns Senator’s Comments

As the matter escalated, the Paraguayan government rejected Amarilla’s remarks against Mbappe and said they did not represent the country’s values.

“The Government of the Republic of Paraguay deplores and rejects the statements made by Senator Celeste Amarilla, directed at the captain of the French national football team, Kylian Mbappe. These statements are contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity, which our country promotes,” the government said in a statement.

Who Is Celeste Amarilla?

Celeste Amarilla is a Paraguayan lawyer and politician, serving as a senator since 2023. She is a member of Paraguay’s Authentic Radical Liberal Party and is known for openly expressing her views on political issues.

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