Macron backs Mbappé after French captain condemns racism
London: French football captain Kylian Mbappé has sparked a political storm over racism by saying a Paraguayan senator was “despicable” for comments he made about him following France’s World Cup last-16 victory over Paraguay.
French President Emmanuel Macron backed Mbappé, one of the star players of the global championship, after the dispute sparked debates about race and the rise of the far right in Europe.
Mbappé reached millions on social media by condemning Paraguay’s Authentic Radical Liberal Party senator Celeste Amarilla after she posted a series of comments mocking her African origins, education and appearance.
“You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,” he replied to X.
“You do not represent Paraguay, which sweated with passion and dignity throughout the competition.
“Because of your carelessness and brazen racism, the whole world has already forgotten the journey and historic effort of your players during this World Cup, giving way to an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.”
Conflict mixing sports and politics on another day of the World Cup after US President Donald Trump He faced criticism for lobbying FIFA to overturn US suspension Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium.
The move appeared to backfire as Belgium won 4-1 in their round of 16 match in Seattle on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
The Paraguayan government said it “regretted and rejected” Amarilla’s statements and said that they were contrary to the values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.
In her post, Amarilla described Mbappé as a “colonized Cameroonian” who was “angry, newly rich, arrogant and ugly.”
He deleted the post following the angry response but criticized the football captain for his remarks.
“Who are you to call me worthless or inferior even if you don’t know me? This is gender violence pure and simple,” she shared. He said he may take legal action over gender-based violence.
But the biggest political backlash has come in France, where concerns about immigration have fueled the rise of the far-right, a trend that will shape next year’s presidential election to elect Macron’s successor.
National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting an appeals court decision in Paris (Tuesday AEST) to find out whether she can contest the presidential election despite her previous conviction for political donations.
Macron supported Mbappé by emphasizing French values.
“Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. This time against racism,” the French president said.
“All my support. When words are polluted, our values respond: dignity, respect, brotherhood.”
French Sports Minister Marina Ferrari also supported the team captain.
Ferrari wrote of X: “By targeting Kylian Mbappé, the Senator is attacking everything our captain stands for and everything our country stands for: freedom, equality and fraternity.”
As in other countries in Europe, immigration and race have also emerged as strong issues in French politics, with some voters turning to the right-wing National Rally because it promises stronger borders.
National Rally Chairman Jordan Bardella, who is seen as the party’s possible presidential candidate if Le Pen is disqualified, promised to turn away immigrants.
“If I become head of government tomorrow, France will no longer be the target of mass immigration,” he told the BBC last year.
Mbappé, praised in France for his success as the country’s team captain, has repeatedly clashed with the National Rally and urged voters not to gravitate towards what he sees as the “extreme” side of politics.
Two years ago he said, “Extremists are standing at the door of power. We have the chance to decide the future of our country.”
Mbappé stood by these comments cover feature Vanity Fair magazine last monthHe warned against the right-wing party.
“People sometimes think that because you have money, because you’re famous, these kinds of issues don’t affect you,” he told the magazine.
“But it affects me because I know what it means and what consequences such people taking control could have for my country.”
National Rally sided with the French champion in the dispute with the Paraguayan senator.
Bardella retweeted Mbappé’s post about the “despicable” senator.
One of Amarilla’s previous posts mocking Mbappé’s training using racist tropes remained live on Tuesday.
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s comments as “completely disgusting” and “unacceptable”.
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David Crowe is the European correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect with: X or email.
