French Prosecutors Investigate Racist Abuse of Mbappé

French prosecutors have opened an inquiry into racist remarks made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla against Kylian Mbappé after a World Cup match.

Prosecutors in France have launched an investigation regarding racist remarks directed at Kylian Mbappé by Celeste Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical party. The inquiry was initiated after the French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint with the national unit dedicated to combating online hate.

The investigation comes in the wake of Paraguay’s challenging loss to France during the recent World Cup match. Following the defeat, Amarilla unleashed a barrage of racial insults against Mbappé, publicly mocking the France captain’s heritage and abilities on social media.

The FFF condemned Amarilla’s comments as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.” She labeled Mbappé as a “colonised Cameroonian” and claimed he was “desperately trying to pass himself off as French”. Amarilla further insinuated that Paraguayan players should have physically reprimanded him after the match.

Mbappé swiftly responded to these disparaging remarks. “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position,” he posted on social media. He expressed concern that her hateful rhetoric distracted from Paraguay’s accomplishments in 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,” he added.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Paris prosecutor’s office detailed that the remarks allegedly stemmed from Mbappé’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, and race. If Amarilla is found guilty of the accusations, she could face up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of €45,000 ($51,000).

Amarilla later attempted to modify her stance by posting an open letter to Mbappé in both French and Spanish. She suggested that her outburst was driven by frustration with his behaviour during the match, including comments on France abandoning a sophisticated style of play. The senator claimed she regretted her actions, acknowledging that she had experienced similar mistreatment in the past due to her mixed race. However, the letter primarily focused on criticizing Mbappé’s response, demanding an apology and threatening legal action if he did not retract his comments.

French President Emmanuel Macron joined many in supporting Mbappé, tweeting, “Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time. All my support. When words smear, our values respond: dignity, respect, fraternity.”

Macron’s office later confirmed that Paraguay’s president, Santiago Peña, had reached out to express support and denounce Amarilla’s comments. Meanwhile, France’s assistant coach, Guy Stephan, labeled the senator’s statements as disgraceful and vile, reiterating that he had yet to discuss the incident with Mbappé.