MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

French football federation to file complaint over Paraguayan senator's racist attack on Mbappé

In the messages, Amarilla used dehumanizing comparisons and disparaging references to the African heritage of the player, who was born in France and is of Cameroonian and Algerian descent

The French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Monday that it will file a complaint with prosecutors over racist posts by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla directed at France captain Kylian Mbappé, and called for judicial proceedings to be opened.

In a statement, the federation described the remarks as “abject and unacceptable” and said they amounted to criminal conduct that should be prosecuted. “The Federation offers its full support to its captain, its players and, more broadly, to all victims of such hateful comments,” the body said, reaffirming its commitment to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination. The FFF added that such statements dishonor both those who make them and those who spread them, and said the national team's players represent France.

Madame Celeste Amarilla,
Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction.
Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay, ce pays qui a transpiré la passion et l’honneur tout au long de la compétition. Par votre inconscience et votre racisme décomplexé, le monde entier a déjà… pic.twitter.com/EnYmgQXvPL

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 6, 2026

The posts were published by the senator on her X account after Paraguay's 1-0 defeat to France on Saturday in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, a result that eliminated the South American side. In the messages, Amarilla used dehumanizing comparisons and disparaging references to the African heritage of the player, who was born in France and is of Cameroonian and Algerian descent.

Mbappé responded on the same platform. “Ms. Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman, unworthy of your office,” wrote the Real Madrid player, adding that the legislator does not represent Paraguay or its national team's run through the tournament.

The controversy also drew reactions from the French government. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari said she was “scandalized” by the senator's words and stated that France firmly condemns the racist attacks against the player. The mayor of Paris also rejected the comments.

Amarilla, a member of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, had not retracted her posts at the time of the federation's statement. The FFF complaint comes amid the zero-tolerance approach to racism that European football authorities have strengthened in recent years, which has led to legal action over incidents both inside and outside stadiums.