The controversial remarks of a Paraguayan senator following his team's defeat were met with a strong reaction from Mbappé, the involvement of the French Football Federation, and support from the presidents of both countries.

The match between France and Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup ended with a penalty goal from Kylian Mbappé, securing victory for France and sending Didier Deschamps' team to the quarter-finals. However, a few hours later, this victory spiraled into a controversy that has now taken on political and legal dimensions.

The incident began when Celeste Amaria, a Paraguayan senator, posted a series of racist remarks against Mbappé on the social media platform X. She wrote about Mbappé, "He is a Cameroonian trying to pass himself off as French," referred to the captain of France as "savage," and claimed that "he doesn't even know how to write."

Mbappé's response was published very quickly. He described the senator as "a disgusting woman unqualified for her position" and wrote: "You do not represent Paraguay; a country that fought with honor and pride in this tournament."

This matter quickly escalated beyond a verbal dispute. The French Football Federation stated that it considers the senator's remarks to be "criminal, disgusting, and unacceptable" and will file a criminal complaint for legal action.

In an unprecedented move, the Paraguayan government also took a stance against one of its senators, issuing a statement declaring that these remarks contradict the country's values and are merely the personal opinion of this representative, not the position of the government or the people of Paraguay.

The Élysée Palace also announced that the President of Paraguay condemned these remarks in a message to Emmanuel Macron and expressed support for Mbappé. Macron also reacted by writing: "This time Mbappé scored another goal; a goal against racism. All my support is with him."

The President of the Paraguayan Congress emphasized that the senator's racist messages do not reflect the true values of the people of this country and that sports should remain separate from politics.

Now, a case that began with a penalty has turned into one of the most talked-about controversies of the 2026 World Cup; a controversy whose outcome will be determined not on the scoreboard, but in court and the political arena.

Source: Reuters