Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has demanded an apology from France captain Kylian Mbappé, warning that she could institute legal proceedings if the football star fails to withdraw comments she says amount to gender-based violence.
In an open letter released on Tuesday, Amarilla insisted her disagreement was solely with the French forward and not with France, a country she described as one she has long admired.
“The issue is between you and me. I have never spoken against France. On the contrary, I stand with France,” the senator wrote.
The dispute follows France’s victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a match that sparked controversy both on and off the pitch.
Amarilla accused Mbappé of behaving arrogantly throughout the encounter, alleging that he disrespected Paraguayan players and goalkeeper Orlando Gill. She claimed the striker ignored Gill’s handshake after the match and celebrated France’s victory in front of the goalkeeper.
The senator admitted that her own social media comments made after the game were inappropriate, saying they were written in anger before she later deleted them.
“I immediately regretted responding with the same insults that I myself condemn. I realised I was repeating the behaviour I despise, so I deleted the post,” she said.
However, Amarilla maintained that Mbappé crossed the line by describing her as “a despicable woman” who was unworthy of holding 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?” she asked.
She argued that Mbappé’s remarks constituted both gender-based violence and political violence against a woman, urging the France captain to publicly retract his statements and apologise.
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“Withdraw your comments, honour the values of your French citizenship and apologise. Otherwise, I may pursue legal action for gender-based violence,” Amarilla warned.
The controversy erupted after Mbappé converted the decisive penalty that secured France’s place in the World Cup quarter-finals at Paraguay’s expense.
Tensions flared after the final whistle when videos appeared to show the French captain walking past Gill’s attempt to shake hands, prompting the Paraguayan goalkeeper to throw the ball at him.
“I tried to shake his hand, but since he paid no attention to me, I lost my temper,” Gill later explained.
Amarilla further fuelled the controversy when she reacted to the incident on social media, referring to Mbappé as “a colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French,” remarks that drew widespread criticism.
Mbappé responded on X by accusing the senator of “brazen racism” and calling her “a despicable woman.”
The French captain has since received public backing from French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, both of whom condemned Amarilla’s earlier comments and expressed solidarity with the France international.