Philippe Diallo, the president of the French football federation, has expressed strong disapproval of remarks made by José Luis Chilavert, who claimed that the French national team, Les Bleus, is ‘a squad from Africa.’
In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, Diallo stated, “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,”
Chilavert, a notable figure in Paraguayan football, made his controversial comments ahead of Paraguay’s last-16 match against France. The 60-year-old shared a screenshot on social media featuring remarks from former French forward Christophe Dugarry, indicating that Paraguay had little chance in the upcoming game.
“If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”
Chilavert commented.
The diversity of the French team is evident, with players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé having roots in African immigrant families. This aspect of the team has become a significant part of its identity.
Dugarry was a member of the French squad that triumphed in the 1998 World Cup, where they defeated Chilavert’s Paraguay 1-0 in the knockout stage. In a repeat of that scoreline, France emerged victorious again in Saturday’s encounter.
