The president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, has publicly criticized José Luis Chilavert following the former Paraguay goalkeeper’s assertion that the French national team is “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,”
In a social media statement released on Saturday, Diallo expressed his strong disapproval.
“If he was once a great goalkeeper, this man has now fallen into disgrace.”
Chilavert, a notable figure in Paraguayan football, made his controversial comments just before Paraguay’s round of 16 match against France. The 60-year-old shared a screenshot on social media containing remarks he attributed to former French striker Christophe Dugarry, who indicated that Paraguay had little chance of winning the match.
“Christophe, you’re right. In 1998 we faced the French and now PY will face a squad from Africa,” Chilavert stated.
The French team is recognized for its diversity, with key players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé being children of African immigrants. Dugarry himself was part of the French side that triumphed in the 1998 World Cup, overcoming Chilavert’s Paraguay 1-0 in the knockout stage.
In a repeat of history, France secured victory in Saturday’s encounter with the same scoreline.
