Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has threatened legal action against France captain Kylian Mbappé, demanding that he retract comments she described as “gender-based violence” and issue a public apology following their heated exchange after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash between France and Paraguay.
The controversy erupted after France eliminated Paraguay on penalties, with Mbappé converting the decisive spot-kick to send his side into the quarter-finals. Tensions escalated after the match amid an incident involving Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill and the French star.
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Amarilla sought to distance her dispute from France, stressing that her criticism was directed solely at Mbappé.
“The problem is between you and me. I have never said anything against France. On the contrary, I stand with France.”
The senator accused Mbappé of displaying arrogance before and during the encounter, alleging that he showed disrespect toward Paraguayan players and goalkeeper Gill. She claimed the forward refused to shake Gill’s hand after the match and celebrated France’s victory in front of him.
Amarilla also admitted that her earlier social media posts were written in anger and said she later removed them after reflecting on her actions.
“I immediately regretted responding to you with the same insults that I myself receive. I realised I was repeating the very behaviour I despise, so I deleted the post.”
Despite this, she maintained that Mbappé crossed the line when he described her as “a despicable woman” and questioned her suitability for public office.
“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?”
Amarilla argued that the remarks amounted to “gender-based violence” and “political violence against a woman,” warning that she could pursue legal action if the French captain failed to apologise.
“Retract your statements, honour your French citizenship, and apologise. Otherwise, I may pursue legal action for gender-based violence.”
The dispute began shortly after the match when videos circulated online appearing to show Mbappé walking past an attempted handshake from Gill, who later admitted he reacted angrily.
“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper.”
Following the incident, Amarilla sparked widespread backlash after describing Mbappé as “a colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French,” a remark that drew accusations of racism.
Responding via X on Monday, Mbappé labelled the senator “a despicable woman” and accused her of “brazen racism.”
The controversy has since attracted international attention, with Emmanuel Macron and Gianni Infantino condemning Amarilla’s comments and expressing support for the France captain.
