French prosecutors open probe into racist social-media remarks by Paraguayan senator targeting Kylian Mbappé

French prosecutors have opened an investigation into racist social-media remarks directed at France captain Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office. The inquiry centers on comments posted after Paraguay’s World Cup loss to France, and it will consider whether the allegations meet French criminal thresholds for aggravated public insult or incitement to hatred or violence.

The investigation was launched after the French Football Federation filed a complaint with France’s national unit for combating online hate, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The office described the alleged remarks as potentially made because of the victim’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion, categories that can trigger hate-speech related charges under French law.

French media reports said Amarilla, a senator from Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, posted a series of racially abusive messages on social media following the match. The posts reportedly mocked Mbappé’s background and appearance, and they included commentary that France’s football federation characterized as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable.”

Mbappé responded publicly soon after the posts circulated, according to reporting that referenced his own statement on social media. He said the senator’s behavior was unworthy of her position and argued that the racist attack sought to distract from Paraguay’s tournament effort, while he criticized Amarilla for what he called brazen racism.

The legal questions now shift to how prosecutors view the alleged intent and effect of the online statements, and whether they can be pursued under French jurisdiction. The Paris prosecutor’s office said it can initiate an investigation into statements made abroad because the victim is a French national, allowing French authorities to act even when the remarks originate outside France.

Under French law, the potential offenses being weighed are punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 45,000 euros, according to reporting cited by multiple outlets. Investigators will next review the complaint, the content of the posts, the timeline of publication and deletion if any, and whether the statements go beyond insult into incitement to hatred or violence.

The case also underscores the growing role of sports institutions and prosecutors in addressing online abuse connected to international tournaments. The French Football Federation’s complaint has put a diplomatic and legal spotlight on an elected official’s speech, while the senator’s later public responses, including an apparent apology request directed at Mbappé, will likely be evaluated for legal relevance rather than political messaging.