Overview
- Parquet de Paris' national unit for online hate opened an inquiry for aggravated public insult and provocation to hatred following a complaint from the Fédération française de football, with the investigation launched on Tuesday.
- Senator Celeste Amarilla published overtly racist posts about Kylian Mbappé after Paraguay’s defeat, then posted a long letter that mixed partial repentance with demands for apologies and threats of legal action, keeping the dispute alive online.
- Kylian Mbappé answered publicly on X, calling Amarilla 'méprisable et indigne de sa fonction', and the comments drew condemnation from French leaders, FIFA and player groups demanding sanctions and better protections.
- The government of Paraguay issued a formal communiqué distancing itself from the senator’s remarks and stressing they reflect her individual responsibility, while reports say Paraguay’s president communicated with France’s president to calm tensions.
- The episode is being framed by sports bodies and media as part of a wider pattern of racist abuse during the 2026 World Cup and could prompt tougher enforcement by authorities, federations and platforms to curb online hate.