French prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla after she branded Kylian Mbappe a “colonised Cameroonian,” with the Paraguayan government distancing itself from her remarks as she now threatens to sue the France captain over his response.
French prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla following a formal complaint from the French Football Federation (FFF) over remarks she made about Kylian Mbappe after France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday. The probe is examining alleged aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred, offences that carry penalties of up to one year in prison and a €45,000 fine under French law if charges are brought and a conviction follows. The controversy has since escalated further, with Amarilla now threatening to sue Mbappe over comments she says amounted to “political violence against a woman.”
How the Row Began
Amarilla initially launched a furious attack on Mbappe centred on his conduct during the match, describing him as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French” and as a “brute who had not learned to write.” The FFF has since referred her remarks to prosecutors, describing them as “criminal,” “racist” and “utterly abhorrent.”
Mbappe responded directly on X, calling Amarilla a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy of her position” in office. “Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished,” he wrote.
Amarilla Escalates With Legal Threat
Rather than backing down, Amarilla issued a further response accusing Mbappe of targeting her because of her gender, while acknowledging she “regretted” aspects of her original post because it “repeated patterns I detest.” She rejected suggestions of anti-French sentiment, saying: “I have never said anything against France; on the contrary, I am with you. I studied at a French school from the age of 2 until I was 17, and I finished my schooling here.” Instead, she said her anger was directed specifically at Mbappe, pointing to pre-match comments in which he said France would “get our hands dirty in the st” if needed. “We are not stupid; we perfectly understand that the st meant the Paraguayan team, and the Paraguayan team is all of us,” she said.
She also criticised Mbappe’s conduct after scoring a penalty past Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill during the match, during which he appeared to laugh at the goalkeeper rather than shake his hand. “Respect between rivals after a match is almost sacred – in war as in peace, in defeat as in victory – and you did not shake his hand; instead, you screamed your victory in his face,” she said. “You showed your contempt, your arrogance, and your lack of manners in a single second. For me, it hurt, and it hurt my entire country deeply.” Amarilla has said she has since deleted her original post, though she says she has not been formally notified of any legal proceedings against her in France and intends to defend herself if the matter goes further while continuing to demand an apology from Mbappe.
Paraguay’s Government Distances Itself
The controversy has prompted an official response from Paraguay’s government, which issued a statement making clear that Amarilla’s comments do not reflect the position of the government or the Paraguayan people, and reaffirming its commitment to respect, human dignity and peaceful coexistence. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña is reported to have personally contacted the French government to condemn the remarks and express solidarity with France in the aftermath of the row.
Backing for Mbappe in France
Mbappe has received strong public support from senior figures in France, including President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari, both of whom condemned Amarilla’s remarks as racist and expressed their backing for the France captain, alongside the FFF’s own public statement on the matter.
