French prosecutors have opened an investigation into aggravated public insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguay senator racially abused following Paraguay鈥檚 loss to France at the .
The Paris prosecutor鈥檚 office told The Associated Press on Tuesday that it launched the probe after the national unit for combating online hate received a complaint from the French Football Federation.
Celeste Amarilla, 61, a lawyer and senator from Paraguay鈥檚 opposition Liberal Radical Party, posted racist comments on X after Mbapp茅 converted the winning penalty in over Paraguay on Saturday. She mocked the France captain鈥檚 origins, upbringing, education and appearance. France advanced to the quarterfinals, where it will face Morocco on Thursday.
When asked about the French prosecutors’ investigation, Amarilla said she has not been formally notified of any legal proceedings and argued that France had no basis to pursue a case against her.
鈥淭o the French Football Federation, I鈥檇 tell them to hire a lawyer before talking nonsense,鈥� she told reporters on Tuesday.
The Paris prosecutor鈥檚 office can open an investigation into statements made abroad when the victim is French. It said 鈥渢he remarks were allegedly made because of the victim鈥檚 actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.鈥� These offenses were punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and a 45,000 euros fine ($51,000).
Mbapp茅 called Amarilla a 鈥渄espicable woman鈥� who was 鈥渦nworthy鈥� of serving in Paraguay鈥檚 Congress.
Her provocative remarks have set off political controversies in Paraguay before. She threatened to sue Mbapp茅 over his comments about her if he didn’t retract them, saying Tuesday, 鈥淗e’s the one who has to apologize to me.鈥�
She said she regretted some, not all, of her racist remarks and had deleted her posts.
The Paraguayan government released a statement Monday afternoon condemning Amarilla鈥檚 remarks as 鈥渃ontrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes.鈥� It added that the senator鈥檚 comments do not represent either the Paraguayan government or the Paraguayan people.
The FFF denounced Amarilla鈥檚 comments as 鈥渦tterly abhorrent鈥� and 鈥渦nacceptable,鈥� while French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari voiced support for Mbapp茅.
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Associated Press writer Emilio Sanabria in Asunci贸n, Paraguay, contributed to this report.
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