London: France captain Kylian Mbappé has sparked a political firestorm over racism by slamming a Paraguayan senator as a “disgrace” for his comments about him following France’s World Cup last 16 victory over Paraguay.
French President Emmanuel Macron backed Mbappé, one of the star players at the international tournament, as the dispute fueled debate about race and the rise of the right wing in Europe.
Mbappé reached millions of people on social media with his accusations against Celeste Amarilla, a senator from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party of Paraguay, after she posted a series of comments mocking her African origin, education and appearance.
“You are a despicable woman and you don’t deserve your place,” he replied on X.
“You are not representing Paraguay, the country that has shown passion and respect in all competitions.
“Through your negligence and your racism, the whole world has already forgotten the journey and the historic efforts that your players accomplished during the World Cup, giving way to a powerless woman who gives the worst image of her country.”
The match mixed sports and politics on another day of the World Cup after US President Donald Trump he was criticized for lobbying FIFA to lift the suspension of the American striker Folarin Balogun so he can play against Belgium.
The move appeared to have failed as Belgium ran out 4-1 winners in their last 16 tie in Seattle on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
The Paraguayan government said it was “disgusted and rejected” Amarilla’s remarks, calling them contrary to the values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.
In his post, Amarilla had described Mbappé as a “colonial Cameroonian” who was “resentful, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly”.
He deleted the post after the outcry, but criticized the football captain for his remarks.
“Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable if you don’t even know me? This is senseless sexism,” she posted. He said he could take legal action for sexual violence.
But the biggest political backlash came in France, where concerns over immigration have fueled a right-wing surge in a direction that will shape next year’s presidential election to choose Macron’s successor.
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting a decision from an appeals court in Paris (late Tuesday AEST) to determine whether she will be able to contest the presidential election despite prior convictions on political contributions.
Macron supported Mbappé in a direct reference to French values.
“Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time,” the French president said.
“All my help. When words pollute, our values respond: dignity, honor, brotherhood.”
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari also supported the team captain.
“By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the senator attacks everything that our captain embodies and everything that our country stands for: freedom, equality and fraternity,” Ferrari wrote on X.
Immigration and race have emerged as powerful issues in French politics, as they have in other European nations as some voters turn to the right-wing National Conference because it promises strong borders.
National Rally president Jordan Bardella, who is seen as the party’s presidential candidate if Le Pen is ousted, has promised to deport immigrants.
“If tomorrow I become head of government, France will no longer be a target for mass immigration,” he told the BBC last year.
Mbappé, who is dominated by France for his success as captain of the national team, has repeatedly clashed with the National Rally and urged voters not to move to what he sees as the “extremes” of politics.
“Extremists are standing at the gates of power. We have a chance to decide the future of our country,” he said two years ago.
Mbappé stood with that opinion in a cover element inside Vanity Fair last month’s newspaperwarning against the right-wing party.
“Sometimes people think that because you have money, because you are famous, that kind of problem doesn’t affect you,” he told the newspaper.
“But it affects me, because I know what it means, and what kind of consequences it can have for my country when people like that take control.”
In the dispute with the Paraguayan senator, the National Rally sided with the French champion.
Bardella retweeted Mbappé’s post about the “despicable” senator.
One of Amarilla’s earlier posts, which mocked Mbappé’s education using racist slurs, remained online on Tuesday.
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s comments as “absolutely disgusting” and “unacceptable”.
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David Crowe is the Europe correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect through X or email address.
