On Saturday, French football federation president Philippe Diallo condemned José Luis Chilavert after the former Paraguay goalkeeper labeled the French national team as “a squad from Africa.” Diallo's remarks came following France's victory over Paraguay in the last-16 match of the tournament.
Chilavert's Controversial Remarks
Chilavert, a renowned figure in Paraguayan football, made his comments on social media just before the match against France. He shared a screenshot of statements from former France forward Christophe Dugarry, asserting that Paraguay had no chance in the game. In his post, Chilavert wrote, “Christophe, you’re right. In 1998 we faced the French and now PY will face a squad from Africa.”
His comments have sparked outrage, particularly considering the diverse backgrounds of several French players, including Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who are children of immigrants from Africa.
Diallo's Response to Racism in Football
In response to Chilavert's statements, 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.” He emphasized that while Chilavert was once celebrated as a great goalkeeper, his recent comments have led him to “fall into disgrace.”
