Hebe Casado persona non grata at French embassy in Argentina after racist remarks about Les Bleus | OneFootball

The French embassy in Argentina has declared Hebe Casado, the vice-governor of Mendoza, persona non grata after racist comments aimed at France's national team. According to L'Équipe, the decision followed posts she made on X.

After France beat Paraguay 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, Casado described France as an African team with no manners and said she could not stand Kylian Mbappé.

Ambassador Romain Nadal said the racist nature of the remarks was beyond doubt, and that they disqualified her from working with the embassy or attending meetings where it would be present. He added there is no place for racism in Franco-Argentine cooperation.

Embassy staff have been instructed not to take part in working meetings with the province of Mendoza if Casado attends. She is unwelcome at the embassy unless she apologises. She has not done so, instead framing her remarks as football folklore on radio and criticising political correctness.

The row mirrors comments by Paraguayan senator Céleste Amarillo, who made racist remarks about Kylian Mbappé after the same tie. On 10 July, former Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy wrote in El Debate in similarly racist terms about the origins of France's players.

Source: L'Équipe