Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has threatened legal action against France captain Kylian Mbappe after the football star accused her of racism over comments she made on social media following France’s World Cup victory over Paraguay.
The row erupted in the aftermath of France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a match that was marked by a series of controversies both on and off the pitch.
Mbappe took exception to posts made by the senator on social media, accusing her of making racist remarks directed at him and the French national team. The Real Madrid forward publicly condemned the comments, describing them as racist and unacceptable.
The senator has rejected the allegation and is demanding an apology from Mbappe.
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Amarilla insisted that her disagreement was solely with Mbappe and not with France, a country she said she deeply admires and has consistently supported.
“The issue is between you and me. I have never spoken against France. On the contrary, I stand with France,” she wrote.
She admitted that comments she posted on social media immediately after the match were written “in the heat of the moment” and acknowledged deleting them after realising they reflected the same insults she has often criticised.
“I immediately regretted responding with the same insults that I myself condemn. I realised I was repeating the behaviour I despise, so I deleted the post,” she said.
Despite expressing regret over the deleted remarks, Amarilla maintained that Mbappe’s response, in which he described her as “a despicable woman” unworthy of public office, crossed the line.
“I am a senator elected by the Paraguayan people. Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you do not even know me?” she wrote.
“Withdraw your statements, honour the values of your French citizenship and apologise. Otherwise, I may pursue legal action for gender-based violence,” she warned.