UN & FIFA panel condemn Paraguayan senator's racist comments against Kylian Mbappe after FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Mbappe scored the winning penalty to eliminate Paraguay.
The United Nations Human Rights Office denounced a Paraguayan government official’s discriminatory statements on Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe scored the only goal in France’s 1-0 victory against Paraguay in Saturday’s World Cup game. Following Paraguay’s elimination in the round of 16, Senator Celeste Amarilla referred to Mbappé as a “brute” and “colonised Cameroonian, pretending to be French” who “grew up sucking coconuts.”
UN condemn Paraguayan senator’s comments against Kylian Mbappe
On Tuesday, the UN Human Rights Office issued a statement condemning Celeste Amarilla’s outburst.
“The racist and dehumanising remarks against French footballer Kylian Mbappe by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla are despicable and, regrettably, not isolated,” the statement said.
“Reports of racist incidents during the FIFA World Cup 2026 reflect a wider phenomenon across football and sports more broadly.”
The statement further stated that, “Public officials have a heightened responsibility to stand against racism, discrimination and hate speech in their discourse.”
FIFA panel issues statement in support of Kylian Mbappe
The FIFA Players’ Voice Panel stated they were “deeply disturbed” by the statements made against Mbappe, adding that racism has “absolutely no place” in sports or society.
FIFA PVP captain and soccer icon George Weah also came in support of Mbappe. He said:
“We stand in complete solidarity with Kylian Mbappe and condemn this reprehensible abuse in the strongest possible terms. Football must always be a game of respect, inclusion, and unity. There can be zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. Our message is clear: racism is never part of the game. It’s a crime.”
Kylian Mbappe hit out at Paraguayan senator Amarilla’s comments. The French star said:
“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,” Mbappé wrote.
“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
Why did Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla make racist comments against Kylian Mbappé?
Because of his winning goal against Paraguay.
Who won the game between France and Paraguay?
France won the round of 16 game 1-0.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.