Kylian Mbappe condemns 'despicable' Paraguay politician as France threatens legal action over racism

The fallout from France's tempestuous World Cup Round of 16 clash took a bleak turn on Monday.

Kylian Mbappe scored the only goal midway through the second half from the penalty spot in Philadelphia to set up a quarterfinal showdown with Morocco.

However, the game is likely to be most remembered for its increasingly fractious nature as the action progressed.

France players struggled to keep their cool as referee Ilgiz Tantashev allowed Paraguay to push and push with their roughhouse tactics by keeping his yellow card in his pocket.

Mbappe had the last laugh and snubbed a handshake from Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill at fulltime before the situation on the field predictably became fraught.

After the match, it emerged that former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert had said it was as if his nation were facing "a squad from Africa" on account of France's long-established diverse make-up.

Now, one of the country's politicians has completely disgraced themselves.

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Paraguayan politician Celeste Amarilla's racist tirade at Kylian Mbappe

Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla from the South American country's Liberal Radical Party posted several racist remarks about Mbappe on social media.

Amarilla mocked Mbappe's origin and his level of education.

"You should have given him the middle finger, Orlando Gill," she wrote. "A colonized Cameroonian, pretending to be French, resentful, newly rich, arrogant and ugly."

MORE: France vs. Paraguay as it happened

Kylian Mbappe condemns 'despicable' racist abuse

In a post on his own X account, Mbappe labelled Amarilla "a despicable woman and unworthy of your position".

He added: "You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.

"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.

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

Imagn Images/Dylan Martinez

France threatens legal action over Kylian Mbappe racism

The French Football Federation (FFF) later issued its own statement, calling Amarilla's remarks  "utterly despicable and unacceptable".

The FFF has referred the matter to the public prosecutor's office, a move that will ascertain whether a criminal complaint can be made.

"How can anyone utter such words? These remarks are criminal and reprehensible," the statement said. "They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The French Football Federation is filing a report with the public prosecutor's office for the purpose of legal action.

"The Federation offers its full support to its captain, its players, and more generally to all victims of such hateful remarks. More than ever, the FFF intends to fight against racism and all forms of discrimination. These remarks dishonor those who make them and those who disseminate them. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted."

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The Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement later on Monday distancing itself from Amarilla's remarks, while President Emmanuel Macron spoke to his Paraguayan counterpart Santiago Pena in a further bid to defuse the situation.

"The president supports Kylian Mbappe and the French national team in the face of the racist attacks to which the captain of Les Bleus has been subjected," said a spokesperson for Macron's office, as per RMC Sport. "The Paraguayan president wrote to the French president to this effect, condemning the remarks that were made, as did the Paraguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs."