France Condemns Paraguayan Senator's Racist Insults Against Mbappé

France has strongly condemned racist insults directed at its star footballer Kylian Mbappé by a Paraguayan senator. Marina Ferrari, France's Minister of Sports, expressed her "scandal" over the "abject" and "racist" comments made by Senator Celeste Amarilla on social media. The controversy erupted after Paraguay's defeat to France in the World Cup's round of 16.

Senator Amarilla reportedly posted a series of discriminatory messages on X, targeting Mbappé following the match, which France won 1-0 with a penalty scored by the player. Her remarks included offensive descriptions of Mbappé's heritage and intelligence. In response, Mbappé himself described the senator as "despicable and unworthy of her position."

Minister Ferrari stated that France condemns these racist attacks with the utmost firmness. She characterized the senator's statements as "unworthy" and "unacceptable," particularly coming from a political representative. Ferrari asserted that France will not remain silent in the face of racism and that attacking Mbappé means attacking the values France represents: liberty, equality, and fraternity. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of online hate speech and the responsibility of public figures.