Paraguayan senator's racist tirade against Mbappé after World Cup loss draws French condemnation

The match and the handshake incident

France beat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday with a penalty from Mbappé in a tense round-of-16 clash. After the final whistle, Mbappé refused to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill and celebrated provocatively. Gill then threw the ball at Mbappé's back, sparking a brief scuffle between players. The goalkeeper later said he had wanted to congratulate the French captain and lost his temper after being ignored.

Senator's racist outburst

Within hours, Senator Celeste Amarilla de Boccia, 61, took to X and Instagram with a barrage of racist insults. She called Mbappé a "colonised Cameroonian" who "pretends to be French, resentful, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly." In another post, she wrote: "This idiot hasn't even learned to write. Instead of mother's milk, he sucked coconuts, and the most educated beings he ever heard were chimpanzees." She also lamented that the Paraguayan team had not given him "a slap in the face" after the match.

This idiot hasn't even learned to write. Instead of mother's milk, he sucked coconuts, and the most educated beings he ever heard were chimpanzees.

Mbappé's forceful response

Mbappé replied on X on Monday, calling the senator "a contemptible woman and unworthy of your office." He said she did not represent the Paraguay that had shown passion and honour throughout the tournament. "Through your thoughtlessness and shameless racism, the world has already forgotten the historic journey and effort of your players during this World Cup, to make way for an incompetent lady giving the worst possible image of her country," he wrote. He vowed never to let people like her spread hate.

You are a contemptible woman and unworthy of your office. You do not represent Paraguay, this country that exuded passion and honour throughout the competition.

French political condemnation

French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari quickly backed Mbappé, condemning "with the utmost firmness the racist attacks" against the 27-year-old forward. "These remarks are abject, unworthy and all the more unacceptable coming from a political leader. In the face of racism, we will not remain silent," she said. The incident follows earlier controversy when former Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert called the French team an "African selection" and there were suspicions of insults directed at the mother of France coach Didier Deschamps.

I condemn with the utmost firmness the racist attacks targeting Kylian Mbappé. These remarks are abject, unworthy and all the more unacceptable coming from a political leader.

What comes next

France will face Morocco in the quarter-finals. Paraguay exits the tournament after a spirited campaign now overshadowed by the senator's remarks. The episode has shifted the focus from football to a broader debate about racism in sport and the responsibilities of public officials.