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France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates his team victory at the end of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Paraguay and France in Philadelphia, on Saturday.Martin Meissner/The Associated Press
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguay senator racially abused Kylian Mbappé following Paraguay’s loss to France at the World Cup.
The Paris prosecutor’s office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that it launched the probe after the national unit for combatting online hate received a complaint from the French Football Federation (FFF).
Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted racist comments on X after Mbappé converted the winning penalty in France’s victory over Paraguay on Saturday. She mocked the France captain’s origins, upbringing, education and appearance. France advanced to the quarter-finals where it will face Morocco on Thursday.
When asked about the French prosecutors’ investigation, Amarilla said she has not been formally notified of any legal proceedings and argued that France had no basis to pursue a case against her.
“To the French Football Federation, I’d tell them to hire a lawyer before talking nonsense,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said “the remarks were allegedly made because of the victim’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.” These offenses were punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and a 45,000 euros fine.
Mbappé condemns Paraguayan senator’s ‘brazen racism’ over remarks after World Cup match
Mbappé called her a “despicable woman” who was “unworthy” of serving in Paraguay’s Congress.
The Paris prosecutor’s office can initiate an investigation into statements made abroad, given that the victim is a French national.
Amarilla later issued an open letter in French and Spanish to Mbappé on social media, in which she said her problem was with the player, not the country of France. She wrote that she regretted mistreating Mbappé with “the same insults” she’s received as a mixed-race person and she had deleted her post.
Mbappé leads France into quarter-finals with 1-0 win over Paraguay
But she also demanded an apology from Mbappé, accusing him of gender-based violence in his comments about her, and threatening legal action if he didn’t retract them.
The Paraguayan government released a statement Monday afternoon condemning Amarilla’s remarks as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful co-existence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.” It added that the senator’s comments do not represent either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.
The FFF denounced Amarilla’s comments as “utterly abhorrent” and “unacceptable,” while French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for Mbappé.
