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Former Paraguay goalkeepoer José Luis Chilavert has caused a stir with a social media statement deemed as racist in the direction of their next World Cup opponents France.
Ex-France player Christophe Dugarry had said on RMC radio that Paraguay would "get thrashed" later on Sunday in the round of 16 because "they are incapable of creating any play."
Chilavert responded on X, saying: "Christophe, you are right, at the 1998 World Cup we played against France and now Paraguay face a team from Africa."
It was not fully clear whether Chilavert's statement was in reference to several France players being of African descent, but it was considered racist by media outlets and social media users.
Chilavert was the keeper when France beat Paraguay in the same round of 16 at the 1998 tournament. He made plenty of headlines for his unorthodox play but later also for homophobic and anti-trans statements.
The issue is not new.
Two years ago Argentinian players were heard in a video shared on Instagram by midfielder Enzo Fernández making racist chants against French players of African descent on the team bus after winning the Copa America. Fernández later deleted the video and apologised.
Early at a current tournament an Argentinian sports commentator said that his original commentary of the France v Senegal match was manipulated.
The right-wing portal La Derecha Diario published a video clip in which the commentator says: "The first half in New Jersey is coming to an end: nil for France, nil for Senegal. The two African nations are currently level."
The last sentence is believed to have been added with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) because it is not part of the original DSports broadcast.
Some Right wing groups refer to the French team as African because several French players have African roots. La Derecha Diario for instance said after the match that "France won the African classic against Senegal 3-1."
Continue reading...
Ex-France player Christophe Dugarry had said on RMC radio that Paraguay would "get thrashed" later on Sunday in the round of 16 because "they are incapable of creating any play."
Chilavert responded on X, saying: "Christophe, you are right, at the 1998 World Cup we played against France and now Paraguay face a team from Africa."
It was not fully clear whether Chilavert's statement was in reference to several France players being of African descent, but it was considered racist by media outlets and social media users.
Chilavert was the keeper when France beat Paraguay in the same round of 16 at the 1998 tournament. He made plenty of headlines for his unorthodox play but later also for homophobic and anti-trans statements.
The issue is not new.
Two years ago Argentinian players were heard in a video shared on Instagram by midfielder Enzo Fernández making racist chants against French players of African descent on the team bus after winning the Copa America. Fernández later deleted the video and apologised.
Early at a current tournament an Argentinian sports commentator said that his original commentary of the France v Senegal match was manipulated.
The right-wing portal La Derecha Diario published a video clip in which the commentator says: "The first half in New Jersey is coming to an end: nil for France, nil for Senegal. The two African nations are currently level."
The last sentence is believed to have been added with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) because it is not part of the original DSports broadcast.
Some Right wing groups refer to the French team as African because several French players have African roots. La Derecha Diario for instance said after the match that "France won the African classic against Senegal 3-1."
Continue reading...
