French prosecutors have opened an investigation into racist social media posts made by Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla against France captain Kylian Mbappé following France’s World Cup victory over Paraguay.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the inquiry was launched after the French Football Federation (FFF) filed a complaint with the national unit for combating online hate.
The investigation concerns suspected aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence linked to remarks allegedly targeting Mbappé because of his actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion.
According to prosecutors, the offenses carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a €45,000 fine.
Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s opposition Liberal Radical Party, published the comments on X after Mbappé converted the winning penalty that sent France into the World Cup quarterfinals.
The FFF described the remarks as "utterly abhorrent" and "unacceptable" before filing its complaint.
French prosecutors said the investigation is examining whether criminal charges should be pursued.
Amarilla said she has not been formally notified of any legal proceedings and argued that France had no legal basis to prosecute her.
She also said she regretted some, but not all, of her remarks and confirmed that she had deleted the posts.
The senator threatened legal action against Mbappé unless he retracts comments describing her as "a despicable woman" who was "unworthy" of serving in Paraguay’s Congress.
The Paraguayan government condemned Amarilla’s comments, saying they were contrary to the values of peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity and did not represent either the government or the Paraguayan people.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari publicly expressed support for Mbappé.
Macron also received a message from Paraguayan President Santiago Peña condemning the senator’s remarks, according to Macron’s office.
France’s assistant coach Guy Stephan also criticized the comments, while Mbappé said the controversy had overshadowed Paraguay’s achievements during the tournament as France prepared to face Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals.