Paraguay’s elimination against France in the round of 16 of the World Cup continues to generate repercussions off the field. Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla was once again at the center of the controversy by publicly demanding a retraction of Kylian Mbappé, after the exchange of statements that arose after the match, which ended with a 1-0 French victory.
The match, defined by a penalty converted by the Real Madrid striker, left a tense atmosphere between both parties. After the defeat of Paraguay, Amarilla published offensive comments against the French footballer on her social networks, which provoked a strong response from Mbappé, who described her as a “despicable and unworthy of her position” person.
Far from ending the controversy, the legislator assured this Tuesday that it is Mbappé who must apologize. “He has to recant with me. He is messing with a senator of the Paraguayan nation and also with Paraguay,” he declared during a press conference.
Amarilla claimed to feel aggrieved by the French attacker’s words and even left open the possibility of taking legal action. In addition, he stated that he considers the player’s statements a form of political violence and violence against women.
The controversy began after the senator reacted harshly to the elimination of Paraguay. His publications and subsequent statements generated criticism in different sectors, especially for comments related to Mbappé’s family origin, born in France and of Cameroonian descent.
Despite this, Amarilla defended his expressions and maintained that his words were the product of frustration over the defeat of the Paraguayan team. In an open letter addressed to the footballer, he acknowledged that he wrote some messages with “his blood boiling,” although he insisted that the forward must also apologize for the epithets he used against him.
Meanwhile, France celebrates its qualification to the quarterfinals thanks to Mbappé’s effectiveness from the penalty spot, in a closely contested match that maintained tension until the final whistle. However, the off-field controversy shows that the intensity of the World Cup continues to extend beyond ninety minutes.
— Celeste Senator (@CelesteSenadora) July 7, 2026