Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation (FFF), has strongly condemned remarks made by Paraguay football legend José Luis Chilavert as racist and a disgrace. The controversy erupted ahead of France's Round of 16 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where France defeated Paraguay 1-0.
Chilavert's Controversial Social Media Post
Chilavert, 60, sparked outrage after posting on social media that Paraguay would face "a squad from Africa" rather than France. This was in response to comments he attributed to former France forward Christophe Dugarry. Chilavert wrote: "Christophe, you're right. In 1998 we faced the French and now PY will face a squad from Africa." The reference was to the two teams' previous World Cup meeting in 1998, when France beat Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 en route to winning the tournament.
Diallo's Strong Condemnation
Reacting to the post, Diallo issued a strongly worded statement on X. "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," Diallo wrote. The FFF president labeled Chilavert's comments a disgrace, emphasizing that such views have no place in football.
France's Victory Amid Physical Play
France secured a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 after Kylian Mbappé converted a penalty awarded following a lengthy VAR review for a foul by Diego Gómez on Désiré Doué. The match was marked by several physical challenges from Paraguay, with none resulting in a yellow card despite repeated fouls on French players. Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, working as a BBC Sport pundit, described Paraguay's approach as "disgraceful", while France coach Didier Deschamps was seen leading Mbappé away from a confrontation after the final whistle.
Next Challenge: Quarter-Final Against Morocco
France will next face Morocco in the quarter-finals after the Atlas Lions defeated Canada 3-0. The match promises to be a tough test for the defending champions as they aim to retain their World Cup title.
