– PARIS, France
French authorities are preparing to take legal action against Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla after she directed racist insults at the French national team captain, Kylian Mbappé. The controversy arose following France's narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cupa match in which Mbappé scored the decisive penalty. The French Football Federation has formally referred the matter to the public prosecutor's office, which has opened an investigation into charges of aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence.
Senator Amarilla posted a series of offensive messages on social media, calling Mbappé a ‘brute’ who never learned to write correctly. She claimed he grew up suckling on coconuts instead of breast milk and likened him to chimpanzees, while also labeling him a ‘colonized Cameroonian pretending to be French,’ as well as resentful, arrogant, and ugly. These statements, rooted largely in racist stereotypes, sparked an immediate backlash and were unanimously condemned by the football community.
Mbappé responded firmly, describing the senator as a despicable woman unworthy of her elected office. He stated that her comments stemmed from hatred and racism and unfairly tarnished Paraguay's strong performance in the tournament. The French Football Federation backed Mbappé in an official statement, calling the senator's words absolutely abhorrent, unacceptable, and criminal in nature, while confirming its intention to pursue legal action.
The incident has drawn significant international attention and sparked condemnation from French sports authorities. The Paraguayan government has distanced itself from the senator's statements. Since then, Amarilla has deleted some of her original posts and issued a subsequent letter demanding an apology from Mbappé accusing him of gender-based violence and suggesting she might pursue legal action herself.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, this high-profile case highlights the football world's ongoing efforts to combat racism. Mbappé, known for his stance against discrimination, has made it clear that he will not tolerate such attacks. French prosecutors are now handling the investigation, and updates are expected soon as authorities examine the evidence and prepare the relevant charges.