Amitabh Bachchan faces backlash over racially insensitive comments regarding French World Cup squad

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Switzerland has secured a place in the FIFA 2026 World Cup quarterfinals following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Colombia. After the match ended in a stalemate, the Swiss side triumphed 4-3, setting up a high-stakes encounter against Argentina in the next round. Meanwhile, France also confirmed their spot in the final eight after a hard-fought win against Paraguay, sealed by a decisive goal from captain Kylian Mbappé.

While the tournament progresses, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan has ignited a fierce controversy on social media following his comments regarding the French national team. In a post intended to praise the French side’s performance, the actor drew sharp criticism for what many described as racially charged remarks.

Bachchan wrote that the French squad consists of eleven players, ten of whom are Black and one white, characterizing the team’s composition as the “power of Black people.” The comments sparked immediate backlash, with social media users condemning the actor for focusing on the skin color and ethnic background of the athletes rather than their professional merit and national identity.

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Critics have labeled the remarks as both insensitive and unnecessary, arguing that professional athletes should be judged solely on their talent and contributions to the sport. Observers pointed out that the French team features a diverse mix of talent, including players such as Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise alongside teammates like Lucas Digne and Adrien Rabiot, all of whom operate as a unified force without internal divisions based on race.

The controversy has overshadowed the excitement of the tournament for many fans, who maintain that the discourse surrounding the World Cup should remain focused on the quality of football rather than the racial identity of the participants. As of now, the veteran actor has faced widespread calls for accountability regarding the nature of his public commentary.