Celeste Amarilla’s racist attacks against Kylian Mbappé have sparked outrage far beyond the football world. But in Paraguay, the senator is no stranger to controversy. Long before targeting the French star, she had already made headlines for explosive accusations against members of her own parliament.
The controversy escalated after France defeated Paraguay 1–0 in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. Following the match, Amarilla posted a series of racist comments against Mbappé on X, triggering international condemnation. Her remarks were so severe that Paraguay’s president and foreign ministry publicly distanced themselves from her statements in an effort to prevent tensions with France.
The French Football Federation reportedly filed a complaint with prosecutors, while French President Emmanuel Macron and the Sports Minister expressed their support for Mbappé. Yet for many Paraguayans, the scandal was another chapter in the long and turbulent political career of the 61-year-old senator.
A senator known for controversy
Shortly after the match, Amarilla accused Mbappé of arrogance and hostility, later publishing an open letter in which she announced her intention to file a complaint against the French captain for alleged “gender-based violence.” Her statements only deepened the backlash in Paraguay, where authorities attempted to calm the situation.
A longtime member of the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, Amarilla has built a reputation as a fierce and outspoken politician. She served as a deputy before becoming a senator in 2023 and has repeatedly clashed with political opponents through controversial statements and heated parliamentary exchanges.
In 2022, several lawmakers from the Colorado Party called for sanctions against her, accusing her of making repeated attacks and threats that damaged the dignity of Congress. Parliamentary debates involving Amarilla often turned into intense confrontations, with lawmakers exchanging insults and accusations.
During those disputes, opponents revived allegations that she had allegedly paid $200,000 to secure her political position and received bribes linked to public contracts. However, those claims remained political accusations and were never proven in court.
A history of explosive accusations
The most significant controversy of Amarilla’s career came in 2020 when she was still a deputy. She claimed that around 70 lawmakers had obtained their positions through “dirty money,” allegedly linked to drug trafficking and questionable political financing.
Her accusations caused a political earthquake. Parliament voted to suspend her for 60 days without pay, accusing her of making disrespectful statements with malicious intent against fellow lawmakers.
Rather than apologize, Amarilla stood by her words, arguing that the punishment was an attempt to silence her. At the time, she famously declared that after her suspension, she would return and continue saying the same things.
Today, the Mbappé controversy has once again placed her in the international spotlight, reviving questions about the outspoken senator’s long history of political battles and public scandals.
