Paraguayan senator investigated for racist insults against Mbappé

The Paraguayan government has condemned racist remarks made by senator Celeste Amarilla against French footballer Kylian Mbappé, and French prosecutors have opened an investigation into the incident. The controversy erupted after Paraguay's 1-0 loss to France in the 2026 World Cup round of 16, a match marked by Mbappé scoring the winning penalty and a post-game exchange with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Racist Comments

Amarilla, a senator from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, posted several messages on X calling Mbappé a 'colonized Cameroonian' and saying 'instead of mother's milk he sucked coconuts and the most educated thing he heard were chimpanzees' Source: Milenio. She also expressed regret that the Paraguayan team did not slap him after the match Source: ABC.

Mbappé's Response

Mbappé replied on X, calling Amarilla a 'despicable woman unworthy of her position' and stating that she does 'not represent Paraguay, a country that exuded passion and honor throughout the competition' Source: Clarin. He condemned her 'uninhibited racism' for overshadowing Paraguay's World Cup run Source: ABC.

Legal and Government Reaction

French prosecutors opened an investigation for aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred, based on a complaint from the French Football Federation Source: Milenio. The crime carries up to one year in prison and a €45,000 fine. The Paraguayan government issued an official statement deploring and rejecting Amarilla's expressions Source: Clarin.

Amarilla's comments have been widely condemned internationally, and the incident has fueled debates about racism in football and public office.