Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has threatened to sue Kylian Mbappe for gender-based violence after the France captain called her “despicable” following her racist comments about him during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The controversy erupted after France’s tense 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the round of 16, where Mbappe scored the decisive penalty.
How the Conflict Began
The incident started when Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill attempted to shake Mbappe’s hand after the match but felt ignored. Gill later admitted, “I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn't pay me any attention, I lost my temper.” Television footage showed Gill throwing the ball towards Mbappe. Amarilla then posted offensive comments on social media, calling Mbappe “a colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French” and a “brute,” and suggesting Paraguay’s players should have slapped him.
Mbappe’s Strong Response
Mbappe responded with a statement on X, calling Amarilla “a despicable woman and unworthy of your position” and accusing her of racism. He said, “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.” Mbappe added, “I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”
International Condemnation and Support
The French Football Federation (FFF) condemned Amarilla’s remarks, calling them “unacceptable” and filing a report with the prosecutor’s office. French President Emmanuel Macron also publicly condemned the senator’s comments. FIFA president Gianni Infantino called for football to unite against racism, stating, “All of football and society stand in solidarity with the France captain — we need to fight racism and defeat it all together.”
Amarilla’s Threat of Legal Action
Despite deleting her posts, Amarilla issued an open letter demanding Mbappe retract his criticism and apologise, or face legal action for gender-based violence. She argued that Mbappe’s description of her as “unworthy” and “despicable” amounted to discrimination against a woman in politics. “I am a Senator of the Paraguayan Nation, elected by the people. Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you do not even know me?” she wrote. She insisted her disagreement was with Mbappe, not France, and claimed she admires France.
Focus Shifts to Morocco Quarter-Final
France now prepare for a quarter-final clash against Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on July 7, 2026, a rematch of the 2022 semi-final where France won 2-0. The off-field controversy continues to dominate headlines as the legal threat adds a new dimension to one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 World Cup.
