It’s not just on the field that Lucas Chevalier is in chaos. Criticized for his performance by some Paris Saint-Germain supporters and certain observers, the 24-year-old goalkeeper has endured a difficult start to the season in the green. But football’s difficulties were compounded by an extra-sporting controversy this weekend.
Several internet users noticed that, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, the former Lille resident put “like” (“I like” in French) on Instagram publications related to the National Rally (RN). From the “spittinfakt” account, the latter presents excerpts from the intervention of Julien Aubert, vice-president of the Republican Party (LR) on the LCP platform, in June 2024. The former right-wing deputy confirmed his support for Marine Le Pen’s party if a choice were to be made against the New Popular Front (NFP) in the context of the early legislative elections at that time.
“I will not blame Marine Le Pen for the actions of her father, just as she is not responsible for the actions of her grandfather,” the political leader explained in the video, which was relaunched by a journalist about the legacy of the National Front (FN) associated with “Petainism” and the “Waffen-SS”. “For reasons like that, if you are the grandson of a collaborator, then you are a collaborator,” he concluded.
“It bothers me”
The mention of “likes”, according to Lucas Chevalier, was “unintentional”. In a long message divided into three Instagram Stories, the last PSG camp spoke on the night of Sunday to Monday. “I could see what was being said about me the night before, regarding the fact that I liked a post on Instagram that was politically oriented, which I obviously didn’t share,” explained the Calais native.
“I’m not trying to convince you, but it’s sad to know that by scrolling and leaving likes without realizing it on a publication, and when you wake up from a nap to prepare for the match, you are told that your picture is dirty from top to bottom due to an unintentional action, it bothers me,” he confirmed in his long text, probably written in private.
The French team’s second goalkeeper also wanted to reassure his customers by insisting that Julien Aubert’s comments did not represent his “values”. “I am not here to show you my education and political demands because I am a footballer. But what is certain is that anyone who knows me knows very well the extent to which I am a person whose respect and respect for my parents and family are instilled in me, and under no circumstances will I allow myself to think about these things. »
Support from Eric Ciotti
Seemingly affected by the controversy that arose, Lucas Chevalier counterattacked in his second story. “But the damage was done and a lot of things were said against me. You tried to make me look like a fascist, and it wasn’t me you targeted, it was my whole family. I would never put myself in the role of victim but the line was crossed, and far from it.”
The summer strengthening of Paris Saint-Germain, once again defended by its coach Luis Enrique on Sunday evening, also struck a blow to its critics at a sporting level. “Also, some people use this to make me look like I’m poor at sports when they have no knowledge of the goalkeeper position. They were the same from the start and they enjoyed it,” he denounced.
One thing is certain, this controversy has entered the political arena. Former Republican president and candidate for mayor of Nice Éric Ciotti also gave his “total support” this Sunday to Lucas Chevalier, whom he considered a “victim of racist insults”, through a publication in X. “Racism is intolerable, including anti-white racism”, wrote the founder of the Union of Rights for the Republic.
