Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has threatened legal action against France captain Kylian Mbappé after he accused her of making racist remarks following France’s victory over Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The controversy followed France’s Round of 16 win over Paraguay, during which Mbappé scored the decisive goal that sent the French team into the quarter-finals.
After the match, Amarilla made comments on social media about Mbappé’s African heritage and French identity, drawing widespread condemnation from football authorities, French officials and the Paraguayan government.
Mbappé later responded publicly, describing the senator as “a despicable woman” and accusing her of brazen racism.
The French captain said Amarilla did not represent Paraguay, adding that her comments had overshadowed the passion and effort shown by the Paraguayan team during the tournament.
However, Amarilla has now written an open letter to Mbappé, demanding that he retract his remarks and apologise.
In the letter, the senator denied attacking France, insisting that her dispute was with Mbappé personally and not with the French nation.
“The problem is between you and me. I have never said anything against France. On the contrary, I stand with France,” she wrote.
Amarilla admitted that her earlier social media posts were made in the heat of the moment and said she deleted them after reflecting on the language used.
She said she regretted responding with insults, adding that she realised she had repeated the kind of conduct she claimed to condemn.
But the senator maintained that Mbappé’s response was excessive, particularly his description of her as unworthy of public office.
“I am a Senator of the Paraguayan Nation, elected by the people. Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you do not even know me?” she wrote.
Amarilla further alleged that Mbappé’s comments amounted to gender-based violence and political violence against a woman holding elected office.
She urged the Real Madrid forward to withdraw his statements, “honour” his French citizenship and apologise, warning that she may pursue legal action if he fails to do so.
The row has also taken a legal turn in France.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into alleged aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after the French Football Federation filed a complaint over Amarilla’s remarks.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the investigation concerns remarks allegedly made on the basis of Mbappé’s origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion.
The French Football Federation condemned the senator’s comments as unacceptable and declared support for Mbappé.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Sports Minister Marina Ferrari and FIFA President Gianni Infantino also condemned the remarks and expressed solidarity with the France captain.
The Paraguayan government has equally distanced itself from Amarilla’s comments, saying they do not represent the official position of Paraguay or its people.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay said the remarks were contrary to the country’s values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.
The controversy has now placed Amarilla at the centre of an international race row, with France backing Mbappé and the senator threatening her own legal action against the player over his response.
France will face Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals as the fallout from the incident continues.
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