PARIS (AP) — The French soccer federation wants to go after social media users who attacked some of the national team players with racist comments after France lost to Argentina in the World Cup. final.
The federation said on Tuesday that some players were beaten up for “unacceptable racist and hateful comments on social media” and that it planned to file a complaint against those who posted abuse.
“The French football federation condemns in the strongest terms these intolerable behaviors and abuses,” it said in a statement.
French government officials have expressed outrage following the insults. Elizabeth Rome, the minister in charge of gender equality said Kylian Mbappe and Kinglsey Coman were among those abused.
Mbappé and Coman are black.
Coman’s club, Bayern Munich, also condemned the racist comments against the winger, one of the French players who missed the penalty shootout that decided Sunday’s final.
“The FC Bayern family is behind you, King. Racism has no place in sport or in our society,” Bayern wrote on Twitter.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera tweeted her support for Coman and all abused players, saying the egregious comments “have no place in football or anywhere else.”
France came from behind twice to draw 3-3 after extra time in Qatar before Argentina won a penalty shootout to cap one of the most exciting finals in World Cup history. Coman had an attempt saved by Argentine goalkeeper Emi Martínez and Aurelien Tchouameni then missed for France.
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