The Senate of Paraguay has distanced itself from senator Celeste Amarilla's 'racist' remarks directed at Kylian Mbappé.

The Paraguayan Senate has denounced what it termed discriminatory and racist remarks aimed at France captain Kylian Mbappe by senator Celeste Amarilla after the two teams faced off in the World Cup last-16 match. The 61-year-old attorney incited backlash by labeling the Real Madrid forward as a colonized Cameroonian following France's triumph over Paraguay on Saturday. The situation escalated when Amarilla took to social media to attack Mbappe, posting a celebration image of the striker in front of Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill, accompanied by a series of derogatory comments about his heritage. Subsequently, Paraguay's Senate engaged in a five-hour discussion on Wednesday before endorsing a motion that denounced all forms of racism and discrimination. The chamber emphasized that Amarilla's views did not embody the official stance of the Senate or the sentiments of Paraguay as a country. During the parliamentary session, Amarilla reportedly persisted in her critique of Mbappe, labeling him with a derogatory term for his choice not to shake Gill's hand after the game. While a few senators supported Amarilla's remarks, believing they were a response to what they perceived as disrespect from the French player, the majority of the chamber sought to distance itself from her comments. Senate leader Basilio Nunez was among those who vehemently condemned Amarilla, asserting that her statements were harmful and did not reflect the views of Paraguayans. "In my opinion, the senator's comments are not just inappropriate; they are appalling and do not mirror what most Paraguayans believe. We must show racism the red card," Nunez stated. He also advised Amarilla to embrace silence in light of the backlash. Earlier in the week, the Paraguayan government had already denounced Amarilla's remarks, asserting they contradicted the nation's values of respect, dignity, and peaceful coexistence. This controversy arises as Mbappe continues to make headlines for his performances on the field. The France forward netted the crucial penalty in the 1-0 win over Paraguay, propelling Les Bleus into the quarter-finals against Morocco.