French prosecutor investigates racism against Mbappé by Paraguayan senator
The French Public Prosecutor's Office opened an investigation for aggravated insult and incitement to hatred or violence after a Paraguayan senator made racist insults against striker Kylian Mbappé after Paraguay's defeat to France, in a match valid for the round of 16 of the World Cup.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office informed the Associated Press that it began the investigation on Tuesday (7), after the national unit to combat online hate received a complaint from the French Football Federation (FFF).
Celeste Amarilla, senator from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party of Paraguay, published a series of racist comments on social media after Mbappé scored the decisive penalty goal in France's 1-0 victory over Paraguay on Saturday (4), mocking the origin, upbringing, education and appearance of the French captain.
With the result, France advanced to the quarter-finals. Their next opponent will be the Moroccan team. The game is scheduled for this Thursday, at 5 pm (Brasília time), at Gillette Stadium, in Boston.
Mbappé called Amarilla a "despicable woman" and "unworthy" of her position in the Paraguayan Congress.
"Because of his recklessness and blatant racism, the whole world has already forgotten the trajectory and the historic effort that his players made in this World Cup, wrote the French number 10 on the social network X.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office stated that "the comments were made because of the victim's real or presumed origin, ethnicity, nationality, race or religion." These crimes are punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of 45 thousand euros (just over R$265 thousand).
Amarilla published an open letter in French and Spanish addressed to Mbappé on social media. The senator stated that her problem was with the player, not with France.
"After a while, I regretted having treated you badly with the same insults that I receive, because I am also despised for being black and Latin, a 'South American', as they call us. I regretted it and deleted the post," Amarilla added. "I realized I was repeating patterns that I hate, so I deleted it. I understand that this bothered you because it is humiliating."
However, she demanded an apology from Mbappé, accusing him of gender-based violence and threatening to sue him if he did not recant.
On Monday afternoon (6), the Paraguayan government released a statement condemning Amarilla's statements.
"The Government of the Republic of Paraguay deplores and rejects the statements made by Senator Celeste Amarilla, addressed to the captain of the French team, Kylian Mbappé, which are contrary to the values and principles that inspire peaceful coexistence and respect for human dignity that our country promotes", says the statement.
The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla's comments this Monday (6) as "absolutely abominable" and "unacceptable", adding that it will forward the case to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Sports Minister Marina Ferrari expressed their support for the national team captain. "By attacking Kylian Mbappé, the senator is attacking everything that our captain represents and everything that our country stands for: freedom, equality and fraternity," wrote Ferrari in X.
"Another goal from Kylian Mbappé, this time against racism", wrote Macron in X. He added that the captain has "our full support".
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Source: CNN