FIFA president condemns racist abuse of Kylian Mbappe after Paraguay row

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has condemned the racist comments directed at France captain Kylian Mbappe by a Paraguayan senator, saying the football community stands in solidarity with the French star.

In Short

• The Paraguayan government distanced itself from Amarilla's hateful comments
• Mbappe called Amarilla 'despicable' and rejects racism strongly
• French Football Federation to file criminal complaint over abuse

France captain Kylian Mbappe has received the backing of Gianni Infantino after the FIFA president condemned racist comments made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla, calling for football and society to unite against racism.

Infantino broke his silence on Tuesday after Amarilla launched a racist tirade against Mbappe following Paraguay's 1-0 defeat to France in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals. The France captain scored the decisive penalty in Philadelphia as Didier Deschamps' side booked their place in the last four.

"I unequivocally condemn the racist comments directed towards Kylian Mbappe by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla. All of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain. We need to fight racism and defeat it all together," Infantino wrote on his Instagram story.

The Paraguayan government also distanced itself from Amarilla's remarks, saying they did not reflect the country's values or its official position. In a statement, the foreign ministry said the senator's comments were "contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity".

It added that Amarilla's remarks were made in her personal capacity and "in no way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay or the Paraguayan people."

Amarilla, a member of the opposition Liberal Party, described Mbappe as a "colonised Cameroonian" who had "pretended to be French" and made several other racist and insulting remarks on social media. She also claimed Paraguay's players should have slapped the France captain after the match.

Mbappe responded with a strongly worded statement, calling Amarilla "a despicable woman" who was "unworthy" of holding public office.

"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition," Mbappe wrote.

"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.

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

The French Football Federation announced it would file a criminal complaint, describing Amarilla's comments as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable".

"These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere," the federation said, adding that the abuse was directed not only at Mbappe but also at France as a nation.

French assistant coach Guy Stephan also condemned the comments, describing them as "disgraceful, vile, outrageous".

Support for Mbappe also came from Emmanuel Macron, who praised the forward for standing up to racism.

"Another goal for Kylian Mbappe. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity," Macron wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Paraguayan Congress president Basilio Nunez rejected Amarilla's comments, saying they did not represent the "genuine values" of the Paraguayan people and insisting that politics and sport should remain separate.

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