The racism row between France star Kylian Mbappe and Paraguayan senator Celese Amarilla with the latter now demanding an apology from the Real Madrid forward14:20, 07 Jul 2026Updated 14:21, 07 Jul 2026A Paraguayan senator has threatened legal action against France star Kylian Mbappe after he accused them of 'brazen racism'. Celeste Amarilla requested an apology from France's captain after he called her 'an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country'.‌Amarilla has since released an open letter saying her problem was with Real Madrid forward Mbappe, rather than the country of France. She also expressed regret for mistreating Mbappe with 'the same insults' she received as a mixed-race person and deleted her original post.‌But, she accused Mbappe of gender-based violence and demanded he withdraw his comments. “Retract your statements, honour your French citizenship, and apologise. Otherwise, I may begin legal proceedings for gender-based violence," she said.‌Controversy was sparked when Amarilla, a member of Paraguay's Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of comments after Mbappe's penalty against Paraguay. She targeted his origins, upbringing, education and appearance.And Mbappe publicly criticised Amarilla's vitriol. He said in a tweet: "Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.Get the latest World Cup 2026 news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter‌"You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. 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, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country."I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."The French Football Federation also condemned Amarilla's comments, describing them as "utterly abhorrent and unacceptable". They had planned to refer them to the public prosecutor's office with a view to legal proceedings.‌In a tweet, they said: "The racist remarks made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé are utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. How can anyone make such comments? These remarks are criminal and deserve condemnation. They must be prosecuted, here and elsewhere. The FFF is referring the matter to the public prosecutor's office with a view to legal proceedings."The Federation offers its full support to its captain, its players and, more broadly, to all victims of such hateful remarks. More than ever, the FFF remains committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination. These comments bring shame on those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the French national team represent France, it is our country that has been insulted.‌"It appears that Amarilla's social media activity against Mbappe isn't an isolated incident, as she warned not to let her into the stadium, as she threatened to turn into a hardcore fan before expressing disdain towards the footballer."The Paraguayan government also released a statement. They denounced Amarilla's comments as “contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes”.Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.Article continues belowContent cannot be displayed without consent