Mbappé insult case triggers French investigation into Paraguayan senator

Paris prosecutors have launched an investigation into alleged racist remarks made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla against French international footballer Kylian Mbappé, according to The Guardian.

The investigation was opened following a complaint filed by the French Football Federation (FFF) and forwarded to France’s national unit responsible for combating online hate speech.

Prosecutors are examining whether the senator could face charges of aggravated public insult or incitement to hatred or violence.

In a statement, the Paris prosecutor’s office said the remarks in question were allegedly linked to the footballer’s actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.

Under French law, such offences can carry a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of up to €45,000.

The controversy arose after Amarilla de Boccia commented on a social media post about Mbappé. In the message published on X, she referred to the footballer using a series of derogatory and racist insults and described him as a “colonised Cameroonian.” 

“This savage never even learned how to write. Instead of his mother's milk, he sucked on coconuts, and the most intelligent creature he has ever listened to is a chimpanzee," she said.

By Jeyhun Aghazada