France opens investigation into Paraguayan senator’s racist comments on Mbappé

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into racist comments made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla against Kylian Mbappé after France eliminated Paraguay from the World Cup, according to The Guardian.

The Paris prosecutor’s office told The Guardian that the inquiry was opened after the French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint with France’s national unit for combating online hate.

Prosecutors are considering whether to seek charges for aggravated public insult or incitement to hatred or violence, according to the outlet.

Amarilla posted the comments after France beat Paraguay in the round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup.

In one post, she called Mbappé a “colonized Cameroonian” who was “pretending hard to be French,” describing him as resentful, arrogant, ugly and “scared shitless” during the match.

In another post, Amarilla called him a “brute” who had not learned to write and said that, instead of drinking breast milk as a child, he “sucked coconuts.” She also compared people around him to “chimpanzees.”

The French Football Federation (FFF) called Amarilla’s remarks “totally abject and unacceptable” and said it had referred the matter to prosecutors for possible legal action.

“The Federation extends its full support to its captain, its players, and more generally to all victims of such odious remarks,” the FFF said. “These remarks dishonor those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the France National Team represent France; it is our country that is being insulted.”

Mbappé also responded Monday, calling Amarilla “a despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of her office. He said she did not represent Paraguay, whose players had competed with passion and honor during the tournament.

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country,” Mbappe added. “I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

Amarilla later issued an open letter to Mbappé, saying her posts were written while her “blood was boiling” after Paraguay’s loss and that she later regretted and deleted them. She said she had repeated insults that she herself receives as a brown and Latina woman, but also demanded that Mbappé apologize for calling her despicable and unworthy of her office.

At a press conference Tuesday, Amarilla defended herself further, saying: “I come from a generation where calling someone ‘little Black shit’ was common.” She also warned Mbappé not to underestimate her, saying she could file charges against him.

“Careful with Paraguayans,” Amarilla said. “We put (Ronal)dinho behind bars for corruption.”

Paraguay’s government rejected Amarilla’s posts, saying they were contrary to the values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity. The government said her statements were made in her individual capacity as a senator and did not represent Paraguay or its people.

The FIFA Players’ Voice Panel (PVP) said it was “deeply disturbed” by the racist abuse directed at Mbappé. “Racism is an attack on human dignity and has absolutely no place in football, at the FIFA World Cup or in society,” the panel said.

United Nations (UN) Human Rights also condemned the comments, calling them “racist and dehumanising.” The office said public officials have a heightened responsibility to stand against racism, discrimination and hate speech.