Mbappé racism row escalates as Paraguayan senator threatens lawsuit over “insult” response

The fallout from the racism controversy involving Kylian Mbappé and Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has continued to deepen, with the politician now threatening legal action against the France star.

Amarilla, who had already sparked outrage with racist remarks following Paraguay’s World Cup exit, issued a lengthy response on social media late Monday, this time addressing Mbappé directly in both French and Spanish.

Amarilla demands apology and raises legal threat

In her statement, Amarilla attempted to reframe the controversy, insisting her comments were directed at Mbappé personally rather than France as a nation.

“My problem is not with France, but with you,” she wrote, before adding that she had deleted her earlier posts.

She also claimed regret over the tone of her remarks, saying she had responded with “the same insults” she herself had experienced as a mixed-race woman.

However, the statement quickly shifted in tone. Amarilla accused Mbappé of crossing a line in his response, particularly after he reportedly described her as a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of holding public office.

“I demand that you retract your expressions,” she wrote, warning that she could pursue legal action if he failed to do so. She further alleged that his comments amounted to “gender-based violence”, escalating the dispute beyond football and into legal and political territory.

How the row began

The controversy began after France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16, when Mbappé scored the decisive penalty to send his side through.

Following the match, Amarilla posted a series of racist comments on social media, mocking Mbappé’s background, education, and identity. The remarks were widely condemned and quickly spread internationally.

Mbappé responded publicly, criticizing the senator in strong terms and accusing her of damaging the image of Paraguay’s national team and overshadowing what had been a historic tournament for the country.

“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’s legal threat has drawn further scrutiny, with many observers questioning the optics of a public official making racist remarks and then threatening legal action after facing backlash.

What happens next?

As of now, there has been no indication that Mbappé intends to retract his comments, and no formal legal proceedings have been confirmed.

Meanwhile, FIFA has yet to publicly comment on the escalating dispute, despite ongoing concerns about racism during the tournament.

With France set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals, Mbappé’s focus will likely remain on the field. But this off-field battle, now involving threats of legal action, shows no signs of fading anytime soon.

Celeste Amarilla – Full Statement in English

“The problem is between you and me. I have never said anything against France - on the contrary, I support you. I studied at a French school from the age of 2 to 17 and completed my education there. I am who I am thanks to the Collège de l’Immaculée Concepción, and I am here because of the education it gave me. We sang La Marseillaise and honored its flag alongside ours. I speak French and I love visiting France. Last Christmas I spent with my family in Courchevel, and we welcomed the New Year in Saint-Tropez.

This has nothing to do with France - the problem is with you.

Your arrogance and your contempt have angered me since before the match, when you said: “If we have to put our hands in the dirt, then let’s do it.” We are not stupid - we understood perfectly that the “dirt” was the Paraguayan team, and the Paraguayan team is all of us. Then you said you would “remove the makeup”; we also understood that you are elegant with makeup, while we, poor and rough as we are, don’t even know what that is.

All of Paraguay stayed silent, myself included. We endured it.

During the match, your arrogant behavior was evident - your contempt for each player, as if they were disgusting. And without covering your mouth, when you said “la concha de tu madre,” an extremely aggressive phrase in Latin America, and you know that.

My posts were written with boiling blood - that mixed blood, a beautiful blend of Indigenous and Spanish blood that runs through my veins.

I wrote those posts today when you mocked those immense Paraguayan players who fought as equals until the end of the match. However, I immediately regretted having mistreated you with the same insults that I myself receive - because I too am despised for being mixed-race and Latin; we are called “dirty.” I regretted it and deleted the post. I realized I was repeating patterns that I hate, and I removed it.

I understand that it bothered you, because it is humiliating.

Now, I demand that you also retract your statements and apologize to me. I will not tolerate your violence either. You do not know me, you have no idea who I am, and you have no right to say that I AM A DESPICABLE WOMAN, UNWORTHY OF THE POSITION I HOLD. I am a Senator of the Paraguayan Nation, elected by the vote. Before that, I was also a National Deputy, elected by the vote. Thousands of Paraguayans voted for me and consider me their voice. My main commitment is to be the voice of the Paraguayan people, to say what they cannot say, and to defend my country with my life - that is what is expected of me.

I represent my country because I was elected in free elections. I was freely chosen to make its laws and to be its voice. You have no idea what it means to be elected to defend your country, to be the voice of the people. I was elected National Senator - I don’t know if you understand the importance of my role.

And finally, you disrespected our goalkeeper’s health. That is not done. Respect between rivals after a match is almost sacred - in war and in peace, in defeat and in victory - and you did not shake his hand and instead shouted your victory in his face. That is not done. In a second, you showed your contempt, your arrogance, and your poor upbringing. That hurt me - it hurt my entire country, deeply.

France should reproach you for this, because it is a country of gentlemen, with centuries of history and “savoir-faire.” France should condemn your behavior.

Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you don’t even know me? This is pure and simple gender-based violence - political violence against a woman who reached this position through the vote of her people. You despise me because of my gender; you offend me because I am a woman. Retract your words toward me, honor your French citizenship, and apologize - otherwise I may initiate legal action for gender-based violence.“

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