Mbappé condemns Paraguayan senator's racist tirade after France victory

France captain Kylian Mbappé has strongly denounced a Paraguayan senator's racist attack following France's 1-0 World Cup victory over Paraguay. Senator Celeste Amarilla posted a lengthy, offensive message on X, targeting Mbappé with racial slurs and questioning his identity and intellect. She described him as a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French," and a "brute" who lacked basic writing skills, suggesting French players should have physically confronted him after the match.

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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.

Mbappé responded with a firm statement, labeling Amarilla a "despicable woman" and unfit for her position. He asserted that she did not represent Paraguay, a nation that had shown passion and honor throughout the competition. Mbappé criticized her "recklessness and brazen racism" for overshadowing the players' historic effort and presenting a poor image of her country. He declared he would never allow individuals like her to spread hatred and racism globally.

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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.

The French Football Federation (FFF) has escalated the matter, announcing its intention to pursue criminal charges. The FFF described Amarilla's remarks as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable" and stated they must be prosecuted. "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," the federation announced. The FFF emphasized that such comments bring shame to those who make and disseminate them, as the French national team players represent France, and thus the country itself is being insulted.

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I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.