Key facts
- French prosecutors are investigating Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for racist remarks against Kylian Mbappé.
- The investigation is for aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence.
- The French Football Federation filed a complaint that led to the probe.
- Amarilla's comments targeted Mbappé's origins, upbringing, education, and appearance after France's World Cup win.
- The Paraguayan government has condemned Amarilla's remarks, stating they do not represent the nation.
- Amarilla later expressed regret but also demanded an apology from Mbappé.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence following racist remarks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla about French footballer Kylian Mbappé. The Paris prosecutor’s office initiated the probe after the French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint with the national unit for combating online hate.
Senator Amarilla, from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted comments on X after Mbappé scored the winning penalty in France's World Cup victory over Paraguay. Her remarks reportedly mocked the France captain's origins, upbringing, education, and appearance. Mbappé himself condemned Amarilla, calling her a “despicable woman” and “unworthy” of her position in Paraguay’s Congress.
The prosecutor's office stated that the alleged offenses were motivated by the victim’s origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion, and are punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($51,000).
Amarilla later issued an open letter, stating her issue was with Mbappé and not France, and regretting her use of insults she had experienced as a mixed-race person. However, she also demanded an apology from Mbappé for alleged gender-based violence in his response and threatened legal action.
The Paraguayan government released a statement denouncing Amarilla’s remarks as contrary to the nation’s values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity, emphasizing that her comments do not represent the government or the Paraguayan people. French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari have voiced support for Mbappé.