The condemnation was swift and widespread. French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X: “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity.”
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari called Amarilla’s posts an attack on “everything our captain embodies and everything our country stands for: liberty, equality and fraternity,” per Al Jazeera.
France assistant coach Guy Stephan described the situation in three words: “Disgraceful, vile, outrageous.”
The Paraguayan government also distanced itself, saying it “deplores and rejects” Amarilla’s statements and that they “in no way represent the position of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay.”
Then came the reversal — and the counterpunch. In an open letter posted in French and Spanish on social media, Amarilla retracted some of her original remarks, saying her posts were “written in the heat of the moment” and that her “mixed-race blood was boiling,” per ESPN. But she did not back down entirely.
She accused Mbappé of “arrogance and contempt” during the match, specifically citing what she called his “refusal to shake hands with our goalkeeper” as the initial source of her anger. She then accused Mbappé himself of “gender-based violence” for calling her a “despicable woman,” demanded a public apology from him, and threatened legal action against him.
The complaint against Amarilla remains active in France. The investigation is ongoing.
The incident also followed earlier racist comments from former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who referred to France’s squad before the match as “a squad from Africa,” prompting the FFF president to call him a “disgrace.”
Mbappé has scored seven goals in the tournament, tied for the most alongside Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. France faces Morocco in the quarterfinals Thursday (July 9) in Boston.
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