The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed its full support for French player Kylian Mbappé this Tuesday, July 7th. The organization strongly condemned the statements considered “racist” and “despicable” made by a Paraguayan senator against the captain of the French team.
Offenses made after France’s World Cup victory
The controversy arose on social media after France beat Paraguay 1-0, in a match valid for the round of 16 of the World Cup last Saturday. The only goal of the match was scored by Mbappé, which seems to have provoked the anger of senator Celeste Amarilla, who published the insults shortly after the match.
Content of Senator Celeste Amarilla’s publications
In her publications on digital platforms, Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla used pejorative and racist language to describe Kylian Mbappé. Among the insults directed at the player, she wrote terms such as:
- “The brute didn’t even learn to write, instead of breast milk, he suckled on coconuts and the most cultured things he heard in his life were chimpanzees.”
- “Colonized Cameroonian, pretending to be French, resentful, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly.”
Amarilla also expressed the wish that the player had received an “open-handed slap in the face” after the match, regretting that this had not happened and encouraging acts of violence.
UN reaction and the impact of racism on sport
Thameen Al Kheetan, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner, did not hesitate to classify the Amarilla demonstrations as “racist and dehumanizing”. He emphasized that, although deplorable, such incidents are not isolated cases, but reflect a larger problem that plagues football and sport in general. The UN’s position highlights the need to combat hate speech in all spheres.
The importance of the UN’s position against speeches by public figures
The manifestation of a global entity like the UN highlights the seriousness of hate speech, especially when delivered by figures with political and social influence. The international repudiation seeks not only to defend the athlete, but also to warn of the unacceptability of racism in any sphere, including the sporting environment of a World Cup. This stance reinforces the need for accountability and combating discrimination around the world.
The continued fight against racism on the global sporting scene
The UN’s criticism of racist statements against a renowned athlete like Kylian Mbappé reiterates the constant challenge faced by several sports organizations and federations. Incidents of this nature highlight the urgency of stricter policies and increased awareness to eradicate prejudice, not just at high-visibility events like the World Cup, but in all competitions and in everyday society.
