FIFA President Gianni Infantino has strongly condemned racist comments made towards France striker Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after the France-Paraguay match at the World Cup.
In an official statement, Infantino expressed full solidarity with the France captain and stressed that football must remain a sport based on respect and equality.
"I condemn without any hesitation the racist comments directed at Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla. The entire world of football and society stands by the captain of France. We must fight racism and defeat it together," declared the FIFA president.
The incident occurred after France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16 of the World Cup, when Senator Amarilla posted racist and offensive comments about Mbappé on social media. Her reaction was immediately condemned by the French Football Federation, French authorities and the Paraguayan government, which distanced itself from the statements, stressing that they did not represent the values of the country or the Paraguayan people.
Mbappé himself reacted publicly, describing the senator as "a disgusting woman unworthy of the position she holds," while emphasizing that racism should have no place in football or society.
