Paraguayan Senator Demands Apology From Mbappe, Threatens Legal Action
Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has demanded a public apology from France captain Kylian Mbappe, and warned she could institute legal proceedings if he does not withdraw remarks in which he described her as “despicable” after their World Cup row.
France’s 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a tense encounter that sparked a heated exchange between the two, came days before the senator’s ultimatum.
In an open letter published Tuesday, Amarilla maintained her disagreement was solely with Mbappe and not France, a country she said she adores and has always supported.
“The trouble is between you and me. I have never said anything against France. Far from it, I am on the side of France,” she wrote.
Amarilla had previously accused the Real Madrid striker of arrogance before, during and after the match, claiming he disrespected Paraguayan players and goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
After scoring the decisive penalty, the senator said Mbappe celebrated provocatively, refused to shake Gill’s hand after the final whistle and showed what she called contempt for Paraguay’s national team.
She said comments she made on social media immediately after the match were made “in the heat of the moment” and that she had deleted them after realising they reflected the same insults she has often criticised.
I regret immediately having replied with the same insults that I condemn. “I realized I was doing the thing I hate, so I deleted the post,” she said.
“I regret the deleted comments,” Amarilla said, “but Mbappe went too far in calling me ‘a despicable woman’ not worthy of holding public office.”
I am a senator elected by the people of Paraguay. “You don’t even know me, how can you call me unworthy, despicable?” she wrote.
The lawmaker also said Mbappe’s comments amounted to gender-based and political violence against a woman, calling on him to publicly retract his remarks and apologise.
“Retract your statements, respect the values of your French citizenship and apologize. Otherwise I can sue for gender-based violence,” she warned.
The controversy erupted after France beat Paraguay to reach the quarter-finals. After the final whistle, television footage showed the goalkeeper Orlando Gill trying to shake Mbappe’s hand before a fight broke out.
Gill later admitted he lost his cool after claiming the France captain spurned his gesture.
“I tried to shake his hand but when he ignored me, I lost my temper,” said the goalkeeper.
The row escalated after Amarilla made comments on social media about Mbappe’s African ancestry that were widely condemned by football authorities and political leaders.
Mbappe took to X to denounce the senator’s comments as racist and described her as “a despicable woman” who was “not worthy” of holding public office.
The incident has since attracted international attention, with French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino both making public statements condemning the senator’s earlier comments and expressing their support for the France captain.
