The French Football Federation (FFF) has filed a formal complaint against Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla for racist comments directed at the captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappé. The legal action was announced after France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, when the legislator published a series of insults on the social network X, referring to the player as a "colonized Cameroonian" and using derogatory terms about his origin and appearance.
In a statement, the FFF described the remarks as "abject and unacceptable" and stated that "these comments dishonor the person who makes them and the person who disseminates them." The entity emphasized that the players of the French national team represent the country and that such attacks constitute an offense to the nation. The complaint was filed with the French Public Prosecutor's Office to initiate legal proceedings.
Kylian Mbappé responded directly to the senator, calling her a "despicable woman unworthy of her position" and stating that she does not represent the Paraguayan people. The Real Madrid player added that, due to the legislator's "unapologetic racism," the world has forgotten the historic journey of the Paraguayan national team in the tournament.
The case sparked reactions at a high diplomatic level. Paraguay's President, Santiago Peña, sent an official communication to French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing the Paraguayan state's rejection of the senator's statements. Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a note stating that the comments do not represent the position of the government or the Paraguayan people, reaffirming the country's commitment to human rights and the fight against discrimination.
On the domestic political front, the President of Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, strongly rejected the senator's messages, stating that "politics and sport should follow separate paths." Authorities from various parties, including the opposition, condemned the statements, with Deputy Johanna Ortega offering formal apologies to the French people on behalf of the Parliament.
Celeste Amarilla responded to the criticism with an open letter in which she admitted to deleting one of the posts out of regret, acknowledging that she acted "with boiling blood." However, she demanded that Mbappé retract his statement calling her "despicable" and threatened to initiate legal action for gender-based violence, arguing that the player's statements constitute attacks against a democratically elected authority.
The case also mobilized French authorities beyond the sporting sphere. The Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, and the Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, vehemently condemned the statements, while the chairman of the French Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, Cédric Perrin, sent a formal letter to the Paraguayan Congress expressing "profound emotion" over the episode.
Update - Jul 7, 2026, 2:46 PM
French President Emmanuel Macron backed Kylian Mbappé after the racist comments by Senator Celeste Amarilla, while Paraguay's government said President Santiago Peña wrote to Macron over the episode. The dispute has therefore moved beyond sport and into diplomatic channels.
Paraguayan congressional leaders and deputies also publicly rejected Amarilla's remarks. The update leaves the original complaint in place and adds the subsequent political and diplomatic fallout.
Update - Jul 7, 2026, 4:02 PM
Senator Celeste Amarilla has announced that she is considering filing a lawsuit against French footballer Kylian Mbappé, claiming to be a victim of insults and "political violence against women." During a press conference, the lawmaker stated that the striker "is messing with a senator of the Paraguayan Nation and also with Paraguay" and demanded a public apology. She questioned the legitimacy of the French Football Federation (FFF) to sue her, arguing that the conflict is limited to a personal dispute between her and the athlete.
Amarilla acknowledged that one of her comments was a "blunder" and attributed the remark to an "outdated cultural pattern," stating she is in a process of "deconstructing" such attitudes. However, she reiterated that she will not apologize to the country, maintaining that her statements were a defense of the Paraguayan people. She also criticized the reaction of the Paraguayan government, stating that President Santiago Peña should not have gotten involved, and insinuated that FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, were behind the international dimension the case has taken.
Meanwhile, international condemnation of the senator's racist comments continued to intensify. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his full support for Mbappé, calling the captain's response a "goal against racism" and reaffirming the values of "dignity, respect, and fraternity." The French presidency also confirmed it had received a letter from President Peña condemning Amarilla's statements.
In the parliamentary sphere, the President of the National Congress, Basilio “Bachi” Núñez, forcefully rejected the "racist, xenophobic, and violence-inciting messages," stating that such comments do not represent the genuine values of Paraguayans. Within the legislature, the controversy has generated divided opinions. Deputy Rubén Benítez considered Amarilla's expressions "reprehensible," while Deputy Edgar Olmedo, although disagreeing with the xenophobia, also criticized Mbappé's attitude for not shaking hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill after the match.
The case began after Paraguay's elimination by France in the World Cup round of 16, when the senator posted a series of racist insults against Mbappé on her social media, leading to a strong response from the player and a formal complaint by the FFF to the French courts.
Update - Jul 7, 2026, 5:25 PM
The French Football Federation (FFF) has filed a formal complaint against Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla for racist comments directed at the captain of the French national team, Kylian Mbappé. In a statement, the organization described the remarks as "aberrant and unacceptable" and stated it will take legal action against the lawmaker. Mbappé responded directly to the senator, calling her a "despicable woman unworthy of her office."
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly expressed his support for Mbappé, condemning the racist attacks and highlighting values such as dignity and respect. The Paraguayan government, through its foreign minister, distanced itself from Amarilla's statements, asserting that they do not represent the country's official position. President Santiago Peña sent a letter to Macron repudiating the senator's comments.
The president of Paraguay's Congress, Basilio "Bachi" Núñez, also spoke out, forcefully rejecting the racist and xenophobic messages. The French Senate, in turn, sent a formal note to Núñez expressing its "profound dismay" at the Paraguayan lawmaker's statements.
In a new twist, Celeste Amarilla denied being racist in an interview on Tuesday but maintained her criticism of Mbappé, calling him "rude" and "cheeky." The senator also threatened to sue the player for "gender-based violence" and "political violence," although she claims she has not yet decided whether to take this action.