The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla over racist comments she posted about France captain Kylian Mbappé on social media platform X. The probe follows an official complaint lodged by the French Football Federation (FFF) regarding remarks made after France’s 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup.
The investigation centres on posts in which Amarilla described Mbappé as “a colonised Cameroonian who pretends to be French” and a “brute”. The incident occurred following Saturday’s last-16 tie in Philadelphia, where Mbappé’s penalty secured the defending champions’ passage to the quarter-finals and eliminated Paraguay.
Mbappé’s Rebuke
The France striker issued a strongly worded statement condemning both the senator’s remarks and her position. “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,” Mbappé wrote. “You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition.”
He further accused her of overshadowing her own nation’s achievements, stating: “Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.”
Legal Consequences
Amarilla faces charges of public insult aggravated by racial grounds, and public incitement to hatred or violence, according to the prosecutor’s office. If convicted, the 61-year-old politician could receive a one-year prison sentence and a €45,000 fine.
The FFF had earlier announced its intention to pursue legal action, describing the comments as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”. In a statement, the federation said: “These remarks are criminal and reprehensible. They must be prosecuted here as elsewhere. The players of the French national team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”
No Apology from Senator
Despite the legal proceedings, Amarilla has refused to apologise. Speaking to the press, she maintained that while she had retracted her original post, she felt no remorse. “Mbappé hasn’t asked me to apologise, and I have no reason to do so,” she said. “I wrote what I had to write. I have retracted my comments – yes, it is racism, which is why I deleted my post. I apologise to everyone; I hate racism.”
Amarilla added that she was “in the process of deconstructing myself”, citing her background in “a society where everything was different”. She also issued a warning to the French captain: “Don’t mess with the Paraguayans, Mbappé – over here, we’ve put Ronaldinho in prison. Don’t underestimate me.”
The controversy has marred what was a historic World Cup campaign for Paraguay, who reached the knockout stages for the first time. France, meanwhile, advance to face their next opponent as they seek to retain the trophy they won four years ago.