Prosecutor's Office Investigates Insults Against Mbappé; Senator Faces Up to a Year in Prison

The Paris Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation following a complaint from the French Football Federation (FFF) regarding racist comments made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé.

“On July 7, 2026, the National Center for the Fight Against Online Hate, a division of the Paris Prosecutor's Office, received a complaint from the FFF. It concerns racist posts on the social network 'X' from July 5, 2026, made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla regarding the 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match between France and Paraguay, which ended in a 1-0 victory for 'Les Bleus,'” the official statement read.

The Paris Prosecutor's Office immediately initiated an investigation into aggravated public insult based on origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion, as well as public incitement to hatred or violence for the same reasons. These offenses carry a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros.

Furthermore, the central office for combating online hate has implemented monitoring of potential racist comments online during the World Cup to ensure investigations can be launched as quickly as possible when necessary.

“This idiot hasn't even learned to write. Instead of breast milk, he sucked coconuts, and the most educated beings he ever heard were chimpanzees,” the opposition senator wrote on 'X'. “A Cameroonian, a product of colonization, desperately trying to pass for French, resentful, nouveau riche, arrogant, and ugly. He was nervous and scared to death throughout the match, as was his entire team; they couldn't even score a goal, they won thanks to luck...” she continued in another post.

Celeste Amarilla, 61, a member of the Liberal Party – the country's main opposition force – has repeatedly been at the center of political scandals in Paraguay.

These remarks provoked the anger of the French national team's number 10, who on 'X' described the senator as “despicable” and “unworthy of her position.” “You do not represent Paraguay – a country that showed passion and honor throughout the tournament. With your unconsciousness and blatant racism, the whole world has now forgotten the historic journey and efforts your players made at this World Cup, to make way for an incompetent lady who creates the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her to freely spread their hatred and racism around the world,” stated the Real Madrid forward.

The highest authorities of both nations also reacted swiftly. Emmanuel Macron supported the top scorer in 'Les Bleus' history (63 goals in 103 matches), condemning the “racist attacks.” The Paraguayan government immediately distanced itself from Celeste Amarilla's words, describing them as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity.”