UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on Tuesday called on states and sports organizations to prevent racism and other forms of discrimination following racist remarks against French footballer Kylian Mbappé made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla.
In a press release, Al-Kheetan called Amarilla’s statement despicable but unfortunately not isolated. The spokesperson urged states and sports organizations to ensure that there are independent and effective accountability measures in place to prevent discrimination. Finally, Al-Kheetan said that social media companies have a responsibility to prevent and address racial discrimination and xenophobic abuse on their platforms.
The controversy started in the aftermath of the 1-0 victory for France against Paraguay on Saturday in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Following their defeat, Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla took to X to insult Mbappé, captain of the French team. In multiple posts, Amarilla compared Mbappé to a chimpanzee and called him a “colonized Cameroonian pretending hard to be French,” among other insults.
Mbappé responded to the racist comments on X, saying that Amarilla’s statement took away from the hard work the Paraguayan national team put into training for the World Cup. Amarilla’s statement has been widely condemned, including by the Paraguayan government, which called the statement “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.”
FIFA has faced criticism for its response to racist incidents previously, but the organization has taken some new steps to address them this World Cup. In May 2024, the Global Stand Against Racism was unanimously approved by FIFA’s 211 Member Associations. This made racism a punishable offence when committed by anyone within a stadium. When a racist comment is heard, a witness should make an X symbol with their arms, and the referee will stop play. Depending on the severity of the incident, the game could be abandoned, or the perpetrator sanctioned.
Additionally, in April, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved a new rule that mandates a red card for any player who covers their mouth to conceal discriminatory behaviour. Paraguayan player Miguel Almiron became the first player to receive a red card for this offence on June 20th during their match against Türkiye.
UN experts have warned that racism and intolerance persist in sports despite efforts to put a stop to it. FIFA also faced criticism after it stopped airing anti-discrimination messaging in advance of the 2025 Club World Cup matches last Summer.
