UN condemns Paraguayan senator's racist remarks targeting Mbappe

The UN has strongly condemned racist remarks made by a Paraguayan senator targeting French football star Kylian Mbappe, saying "there is no place for racism."

The UN posted a photo of Mbappe on its official social media accounts Tuesday, stating that the racist and dehumanizing comments made by Paraguayan Sen. Celeste Amarilla toward Mbappe were "despicable."

"Every player has the right to equal dignity and respect," the UN said, adding that "language that dehumanizes people based on race or ethnic origin has no place in sport or public discourse."

The UN also called for accountability from states, institutions and social media platforms.

The UN said public officials "bear a heightened responsibility to counter racism, discrimination and hate speech in public discourse," and that states and sports organizations "must actively work to prevent acts of racism and all other forms of discrimination."

The UN also called on social media companies to act, saying they "have a responsibility under international human rights standards to prevent and address racist and xenophobic abuse on their platforms."

It urged the world to "let sport unite people across borders and cultures," adding that "the power of sport must be used to promote equality, dignity and respect — not hatred or dehumanization."

Amarilla posted the remarks on social media after Paraguay lost to France in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at a stadium in Philadelphia, writing that Mbappe was "a beast who hasn't even learned to write."

She also said he "sucked on coconuts instead of breast milk" and that "the smartest being he probably knows is a chimpanzee," calling him "a Cameroonian from the colonies pretending to be French."

Mbappe fired back, calling Amarilla "a vile woman unworthy of her position" and saying she "should not represent Paraguay, a country that showed passion and honor throughout this tournament."

Amarilla then sent Mbappe an open letter accusing him of arrogant and disrespectful behavior during the match against Paraguay.

In the letter, she claimed Mbappe had insulted Paraguayan players, snubbed the goalkeeper after the match and used offensive language. While acknowledging that some of her own remarks had been inappropriate and saying she had deleted them, she demanded that Mbappe retract his comments and issue a public apology, warning that she could pursue legal action if he refused.