Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has claimed that her Instagram account was hacked amid growing backlash over alleged racist comments she made against France captain, Kylian Mbappé, following France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay at the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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The controversy began after France defeated Paraguay through a second-half penalty scored by Mbappé in a tense knockout match.
After the game, Mbappé reportedly ignored a handshake from Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, a development that angered Amarilla and triggered her outburst against the French captain.
In a now-deleted post on X, Amarilla made racially offensive remarks about Mbappé, referring to him as a “colonised Cameroonian pretending to be French” and making other derogatory comments about his African background.
Her comments sparked widespread condemnation from football authorities, political leaders and the Paraguayan government.
Mbappé also responded to the senator, describing her as unworthy of public office and saying her remarks had overshadowed Paraguay’s impressive World Cup campaign.
The French Football Federation condemned the comments and reportedly referred the matter to prosecutors, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino also criticised the remarks.
The Paraguayan government distanced itself from Amarilla’s comments, saying they did not reflect the country’s position and were contrary to human dignity.
The backlash also reached the Paraguayan Senate, where lawmakers passed a motion condemning her remarks and stating that her discriminatory expressions did not represent the chamber or the people of Paraguay.
Amid the uproar, Amarilla deleted some of the posts but later appeared before the Paraguayan Senate, where she again criticised Mbappé over his conduct toward the Paraguayan goalkeeper.
She also reportedly demanded an apology from the French footballer and threatened legal action against him for alleged gender-based and political violence.
As criticism continued, Amarilla claimed on Thursday that she had lost control of her Instagram account and should not be held responsible for posts appearing on the page from that point.
“I am announcing that my Instagram account has been hacked, possibly since this morning,” she wrote on X.
“I am taking the necessary steps for my protection and that of my followers; please excuse any inconvenience this may cause you.”
However, by Friday, Amarilla said she had recovered the Instagram account.
In a defiant follow-up post, she wrote, “Tell the French they can keep being annoying.”
The development has deepened the diplomatic and legal fallout from the incident, with reports indicating that French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the racist remarks.
The controversy has also raised fresh questions about racism in football, political responsibility on social media and the conduct expected of elected officials during international sporting events.
Amarilla has not withdrawn her criticism of Mbappé, despite claiming that her Instagram account was compromised.
The feud has continued to attract global attention as France progresses in the World Cup and Paraguay’s campaign becomes overshadowed by the senator’s remarks.
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