THE controversy surrounding Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla and France captain Kylian Mbappé intensified this week after the lawmaker claimed her Instagram account had been compromised, following a backlash over remarks widely condemned as racist.
The dispute erupted after France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16, prompting Amarilla to launch a series of attacks against Mbappé on social media.
Foreign news agencies reported the senator describing the French forward as a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French" and called him a "brute who had not learned to write," among other inflammatory remarks.
Mbappé responded strongly, branding Amarilla a "despicable woman" who was "unworthy of her position" and accusing her of displaying "brazen racism."
The incident came shortly after another controversy involving a Paraguay football figure, who was also criticised internationally over separate remarks directed at the France team that were described as racist.
The fallout widened as French authorities opened a formal investigation into Amarilla’s statements following a complaint filed by the French Football Federation. The alleged offence carries a possible penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of €45,000 (US$51,367.50) under French law.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned the comments, saying "all of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain."
Paraguay’s Senate moved to distance itself from Amarilla’s remarks, stating that her comments did not represent the position of the legislative chamber. The Paraguayan government also rejected any association with her statements.
International organisations also joined the condemnation, with the United Nations human rights office and World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressing concern over the senator’s remarks.
Amarilla later issued a mixed response to the criticism. In one social media statement, she expressed regret over using insults that she said she had personally experienced as a mixed-race woman, but at the same time demanded an apology from Mbappé and threatened legal action against him.
She accused the France captain’s response of amounting to "gender-based violence" and "political violence against a woman."
Speaking to reporters later, Amarilla acknowledged that her original comments "were racist" and "unfortunate," although she stopped short of issuing a full apology.
"I'm trying to build a different Celeste Amarilla," she said.
Despite the backlash, Amarilla continued to indicate that she was considering legal action against Mbappé. She told a Paraguayan broadcaster that she was weighing a lawsuit, while her lawyer suggested that the case could involve allegations of criminal defamation under Paraguayan law.
The dispute escalated further on Friday when Amarilla claimed her Instagram account had been hacked, even as content linked to Mbappé continued appearing on the account, including references to the French striker’s missed penalty and complaints to officials during France’s 2-0 quarter-final victory over Morocco.
"I am announcing that my Instagram account has been hacked, possibly since this morning, so I am not responsible for anything that is posted there from today onward," Amarilla wrote.
"I am taking the necessary steps for my protection and that of my followers. Please excuse any inconvenience this may cause you."
Hours later, another message appeared on the account stating: "I got my Instagram back 2 hours ago! France, you can keep on annoying me! ! !"
While the off-field dispute continued to grow, Mbappé remained focused on France’s World Cup campaign. The forward scored during France’s quarter-final victory over Morocco, moving level with Lionel Messi at the top of the tournament’s Golden Boot standings as France advanced to the semi-finals. - July 11, 2026
