A Paraguayan senator has now published an explosive open letter addressing her ongoing verbal conflict with Kylian Mbappe. Madame Celeste Amarilla's nation were knocked out of the World Cup by the French star in the Last 16, prompting a shocking and racist attack from the politician.
Paraguay made headlines in the 1-0 defeat as they did not pick up a single yellow card, despite a number of nasty tackles against France. Mbappe scored the winner from the spot, but was clearly unimpressed with the opposition, notably snubbing a handshake with goalkeeper Orlando Gill at the full-time whistle.
Paraguayan senator Amarilla then attacked the French captain in a remarkably offensive online post. Mbappe responded to it, calling out her 'brazen racism', while the French Football Federation (FFF) now plan plan to file a lawsuit.
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Madame Celeste Amarilla Demands Apology From Mbappe in Long Rant
Kylian Mbappe (France) and Orlando Gill (Paraguay)Dylan Martinez via Reuters
Despite the huge backlash, Amarilla has now doubled down and actually demanded an apology from Mbappe. On her official Instagram page, she posted a lengthy statement in which she claimed she 'loves' France' before then taking up the position of a victim, despite having attacked the Real Madrid star with her initial comments.
She began: “The problem is between you and me. I have never said anything against France. On the contrary, I stand with France. I studied at a French school from the age of 2 until I was 17, where I completed my education." She then spoke about her time spent in the country before adding:
"This has nothing to do with France. The problem is with you. Your arrogance and contempt angered me long before the match, when you said, 'If we have to put our hands in the dirt, then let’s do it.' We are not stupid. We understood perfectly that by 'the dirt,' you meant the Paraguayan team, and the Paraguayan team represents all of us. Then you said you were going to remove our makeup. We understood that too. All of Paraguay remained silent, myself included. We endured it. During the match, your arrogance was obvious. Your contempt for every Paraguayan player was clear, as if they were beneath you."
Amarilla went on to criticise Mbappe for an 'extremely offensive insult' he made towards the Paraguayan players during the game, adding: "Respect between rivals after a match is almost sacred, in war and in peace, in defeat and in victory. Yet you refused to shake his hand and shouted your victory in his face. In a single moment, you displayed contempt, arrogance, and poor manners. It hurt me, it hurt my entire country, and it hurt deeply.
"France should hold you accountable because it is a nation of honour, with centuries of history and savoir faire."
She then explained why she deleted the original post: "My posts were written in the heat of the moment, with my blood boiling, the blood of a mixed heritage, a beautiful blend of Indigenous and Spanish ancestry that runs through my veins. I wrote them while watching you mock those extraordinary Paraguayan players who fought as equals until the final whistle. However, I immediately regretted responding to you with the same insults that I myself receive. I realised I was repeating the very behaviour I despise, so I deleted the post. I understand that my words offended you because humiliation hurts."
Despite this, she insisted that Mbappe must apologise and also retract his comments. Amarilla wrote:
"Now I demand that you also retract your statements and apologize to me. I will not tolerate your violence either. You do not know me. You have no idea who I am, and you have no right to say that I AM A DESPICABLE WOMAN, UNWORTHY OF THE OFFICE I HOLD. I am a Senator of the Paraguayan Nation, elected by the people. Before that, I was a National Deputy, also elected by the people. Thousands of Paraguayan men and women voted for me and consider me their voice. My foremost duty is to speak for the Paraguayan people, to say what they cannot say, and to defend my country with my life if necessary."
She concluded: "I represent my country because I was freely elected. I was chosen in democratic elections to help make its laws and to be its voice. You have no idea what it means to be elected to defend your nation and represent its people. Who are you to call me unworthy or despicable when you do not even know me? This is blatant gender based violence. This is political violence against a woman who earned her position through the democratic vote of her people. You insult me because I am a woman. You attack my dignity as a woman and as a political representative. Retract your statements, honour your French citizenship, and apologise. Otherwise, I may pursue legal action for gender based violence.”
What Was First Said Between Mbappe and Madame Celeste Amarilla
Kylian Mbappe (France)Kyle Rodden/Cal Sport Media/Sipa USA
Amarilla first sparked the outrage as she took to Instagram and wrote some disgusting and racist comments, first stating: [Mbappe] is so dumb he didn’t even learn how to write; instead of mother’s milk he was sucking coconuts, and the most educated things he’s ever heard were chimpanzees."
She also added, "Cameroonian, colonised, pretending hard to be French, bitter, nouveau riche, arrogant and ugly."
Mbappe's response was firm as he said: "You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition. Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country. I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world."
The FFF also made a statement as they condemned the initial comments and threatened legal action.