French prosecutors opened an investigation on Tuesday into alleged racist social media posts targeting France captain Kylian Mbappé by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla following a World Cup match on Saturday.
Authorities are evaluating charges of aggravated public insult or incitement to hatred or violence, according to The Guardian.
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The Paris prosecutor's office announced the inquiry after the French Football Federation (FFF) submitted an official complaint to the national unit tasked with combating online hate.
During the online tirade, the Liberal Radical party senator targeted the striker after his penalty secured a French victory.
The FFF condemned the digital posts as entirely unacceptable.
Senator Amarilla called Mbappé a "colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French" and a "brute who had not learned to write."
She also suggested physical retaliation from the South American squad was warranted.
Mbappé quickly issued a public rebuttal on social media, writing: "Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.
You do not represent Paraguay."
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He added that her remarks detracted from the achievements of the Paraguayan national team.
The Paris prosecutor's office noted that the remarks were allegedly made because of the victim's actual or perceived origin, ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion.
The documented offenses carry potential penalties of up to one year of imprisonment and a 45,000 euros fine ($51,000).
Amarilla later published an open letter to Mbappé, defending her background and questioning his right to criticize her.
The Paraguayan government formally distanced itself from the senator's remarks, stating they contradicted national values of peaceful coexistence.
French President Emmanuel Macron publicly supported Mbappé, saying: "Another goal for Kylian Mbappé. Against racism this time."
Macron reaffirmed national values of dignity and respect, and his office received a supportive letter from Paraguayan President Santiago Peña condemning the remarks.
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France's assistant coach Guy Stephan called the senator's actions "disgraceful, vile, outrageous."
