Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla has called on France captain Kylian Mbappé to withdraw comments she says amounted to gender based abuse, warning that she could take legal action if he fails to apologise.
Her demand follows a heated exchange between the two after France’s Round of 16 victory over Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The dispute began after Amarilla made controversial remarks about Mbappé’s African heritage, prompting widespread criticism.
In an open letter released on Tuesday, the senator said her disagreement was directed solely at the French forward and not at France as a nation, stressing her admiration for the country.
“The problem is between you and me. I have never said anything against France. On the contrary, I stand with France,” she wrote in a letter issued on Tuesday.
Amarilla alleged that Mbappé acted disrespectfully before, during and after the match, accusing him of treating Paraguayan players, including goalkeeper Orlando Gill, with disdain.
She also claimed he ignored Gill’s attempt to shake hands after the final whistle and celebrated France’s victory in front of the goalkeeper.
The senator admitted that some of her own social media comments were written in anger and were later deleted because she regretted making them.
“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,” she wrote.
Despite that, Amarilla insisted Mbappé crossed the line by describing her as “a despicable woman” and questioning 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?” she asked.
She argued that his remarks amounted to “gender-based violence” and “political violence against a woman,” demanding a public retraction and apology.
“Retract your statements, honour your French citizenship, and apologise. Otherwise, I may pursue legal action for gender-based violence,” she said.
The row erupted after Mbappé converted the winning penalty to send France into the World Cup quarter finals. Tempers flared after the match, with footage appearing to show Gill throwing the ball towards the French star after an unsuccessful attempt to shake his hand.
“I tried to shake his hand, but since he didn’t pay me any attention, I lost my temper,” Gill said after the match.
Amarilla later described Mbappé as “a colonised Cameroonian who has really pretended to be French” in a social media post, prompting the France captain to accuse her of “brazen racism” and call her “a despicable woman.”
The controversy has also drawn reactions from French President Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, both of whom publicly backed Mbappé and condemned Amarilla’s earlier remarks.