Champions League: PSG honors all of French football, hails Philippe Diallo, president of the FFF

After their victory against Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain will defend their title in the Champions League in Budapest on May 30th against Arsenal.

“PSG honors all of French football”, praised Philippe Diallo, president of the French Football Federation, on France Inter on Thursday, May 7th, after the Parisian club’s qualification for the Champions League final on Wednesday night. “This second consecutive qualification for the Champions League final is a performance that is both unprecedented and truly extraordinary”, emphasizes Philippe Diallo.

“PSG is on an unprecedented historic journey, he continues. It may be the strongest team ever fielded by the Parisian club. And I am delighted that this performance is also due to the presence of some of our French national team players: Doué, Dembélé, Barcola, Zaïre-Emery were on the field as starters and they are key players in the French national team. So it is truly French football shining.”

Philippe Diallo also praises the performances of Strasbourg, who are playing their Conference League semifinal against Rayo Vallecano on Thursday evening, and Lyon’s players, who are qualified for the Champions League final. “It is truly a remarkable overall performance from French clubs,” highlights the FFF president.

The president of the French Football Federation condemns “unacceptable acts” after the vandalism of photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s exhibition on “Living Together”, at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, following PSG’s semifinal. “We were in joy, in emotion and thugs attack an exhibition supposedly to celebrate Paris Saint-Germain’s victory. It’s unacceptable and I condemn it with the utmost firmness”, reacts the FFF boss.

Philippe Diallo apologizes to the photographer: “Living together is the reason for football. Those who committed these acts are going against the values of football and I hope they will be identified and punished.”

Very moved, Yann Arthus-Bertrand called for volunteers on social media to help rebuild his exhibition. He was touched by the mobilization of many people who came early in the morning to participate in its reinstallation. The FFF president also offers his help to the photographer: “I don’t want us to be left with an image that does not correspond to that of football. Football is precisely living together, it is about gathering, uniting, coming together in the same passion, but a passion in which each individual is capable of controlling themselves,” he affirms.