UN, FIFA Condemn Senator's Racist Abuse of Mbappé After France's 1-0 Win
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 7
UN, FIFA Condemn Senator's Racist Abuse of Mbappé After France's 1-0 Win
1 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 7
Summary
UN and FIFA denounced racist remarks by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla against Kylian Mbappé after France beat Paraguay 1-0 at the World Cup.
Amarilla's abuse followed Mbappé's refusal to shake goalkeeper Orlando Gill's hand after the match, with the senator also urging that he should have been slapped.
The UN called the comments dehumanizing and said racist incidents at the 2026 World Cup reflect a wider problem, urging states, sports bodies and social media platforms to enforce accountability.
FIFA's Players' Voice Panel said it was deeply disturbed, while honorary captain George Weah said racism has no place in football and called it a crime.
Mbappé, 27, now heads into France's quarterfinal against Morocco in Boston on July 9 with the fallout from the Paraguay match still growing.
Will a Paraguayan senator face French justice for her racist attack on Kylian Mbappé?
As racism plagues the World Cup, can FIFA's new rules stop hate speech from public officials?
Racist Remarks Against Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan Senator Spark International Condemnation and Renewed Calls for Anti-Racism in Football
Overview
After France's narrow 1-0 win over Paraguay in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the decisive penalty, Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla de Boccia directed racist abuse at Mbappé. The severity of her remarks led the French Football Federation to file a formal complaint, prompting French authorities to launch an investigation into public insult and incitement to hatred. The incident sparked widespread condemnation from international sports bodies, governments, and the public, highlighting the ongoing challenge of racism in football and the urgent need for stronger anti-racism measures in sports.