Philippe Diallo, the president of the French Football Federation, has expressed his disapproval of José Luis Chilavert’s recent remarks regarding the French national team. Chilavert, a former goalkeeper for Paraguay, stated that Les Bleus are “I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racist remarks made by José Luis Chilavert against the French national team, which undermine the values of respect, fraternity, and diversity in our football,” prompting Diallo to respond strongly.
In a post on social media, Diallo stated, “If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”
Chilavert, a prominent figure in Paraguayan football, made his comments ahead of his country’s round-of-16 match against France on Saturday. He shared a screenshot on social media of a message purportedly from former French striker Christophe Dugarry, who had mentioned that Paraguay did not stand a chance in the encounter.
Chilavert responded to Dugarry, saying, “Christophe, you’re right. In 1998 we faced the French and now PY will face a squad from Africa,”
The French team is celebrated for its rich diversity, with key players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé being children of African immigrants. This diversity is a significant aspect of the team’s identity.
Dugarry was part of the French squad that triumphed in the 1998 World Cup, where they defeated Chilavert’s Paraguay 1-0 in the knockout stage. On Saturday, France replicated that scoreline, winning the match against Paraguay.
