On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) strongly condemned the “despicable” racist and dehumanizing attacks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla against French football star Kylian Mbappé. The statement highlighted that these incidents are not isolated, especially in the context of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The regional office for South America emphasized that such racist behavior during the tournament reflects a broader problem within football and sports in general. It called on political leaders like Amarilla to take greater responsibility in opposing racism, discrimination, and hate speech in their public statements.

The OHCHR urged states and sports organizations to actively prevent acts of racism and other forms of discrimination, ensuring independent and effective accountability mechanisms are in place. Additionally, the office stressed that digital platforms and social media must also uphold international human rights standards by preventing and addressing racial discrimination and xenophobic abuse.

This call to action comes amid ongoing debates about inclusion and respect in global sports events, reminding us that combating racism requires collective effort from governments, institutions, and society alike.