Chat-World » The debate was sparked by Le Graët’s comments

PORTO ALEGRE www.thetopsoccer.com/poland , Brazil (AP) — Most thought Chile’s glory days were over when it failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.Its golden generation was considered done and few expected “La Roja” to be capable of adding to the two Copa América titles it won in 2015 and 2016.But nearly two years after Chile’s demoralizing elimination in World Cup qualifying, a squad with many of the players who participated in the team’s successful run has put Chile back in the hunt for a title.Victory against Peru in Wednesday’s Copa América semifinal will leave Chile a game away from its third straight South American title, a feat no team has achieved in more than seven decades.Chile has been under pressure since the day it failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia two years ago.The team’s performances in friendlies under new coach Reinaldo Rueda were disappointing, and criticism grew in the lead-up to the Copa América, with local media and fans carrying few expectations ahead of the tournament in Brazil.But the veterans from Chile’s consecutive Copa América triumphs — among them Arturo Vidal, Gary Medel and Alexis Sánchez — showed there was still more to come from that squad.“We knew the best of Chile would eventually come out,” said the 32-year-old Vidal, who converted one of the penalties in Chile’s 5-4 shootout win over Colombia in the quarterfinals on Friday. “This generation is hungry to continue achieving great things.”Chile is trying to become the second team to win three consecutive South American titles since Argentina from 1945-47.Chile has 12 players from the squad that won the title in 2016, and nine were in the 2015 team that triumphed at home.“Chile has consolidated this group of players who know how to be winners Cheap Portugal Soccer Shirts ,” said the 62-year-old Rueda, a Colombian who took over the Chilean squad in the beginning of 2018 after having led Honduras in the 2010 World Cup and Ecuador in the 2014 World Cup.Rueda made some changes that are finally starting to pay off, including the switch from a high defensive line that was setup far from the area to one that holds back more often and allows the team to be more dangerous while attacking through the flanks.The team’s only loss in four matches at the Copa América came against Uruguay in the final group game, when Rueda rested some of his regular starters. In the quarterfinals, Chile got past a Colombian squad that had finished with the best group-stage campaign.The Copa América results has helped Rueda gain the confidence of most Chilean fans, and only increased the support from his players.“No one in the Chilean press believed in us,” Medel said. “This is all happening because of Rueda. He is a soccer master. He knows a lot, there’s a reason why he has won so much in his career. We are by his side until the end.” PARIS (AP) — The French league insisted Wednesday that referees still have the right to stop matches in case of homophobic chanting, despite the national federation president urging them not to halt play.Referees were told by French soccer federation president Noël Le Graët on Tuesday to ignore a FIFA directive and no longer stop matches when there is homophobic chanting. In response Cheap Russia Soccer Jerseys , anti-discrimination groups urged Le Graët to resign.Several league games in France’s top two divisions have been halted by referees this season.Representatives of anti-discrimination groups and French soccer fan groups met with the French league — or LFP — on Wednesday to discuss the matter ahead of the resumption of league matches this weekend.“Our delegates have a working framework. If there are, and only if there are discriminatory chants, will they alert the referee, who will be finally the only one who will take the decision to interrupt the game or not,” said Didier Quillot, the LFP’s general director. “Homophobia is a plague and there is no place for it in the stadiums.”LFP president Nathalie Boy de la Tour said soccer fans are not discriminatory in general but that the language some supporters use has no place.“Football has a social responsibility. Football has to assume its responsibility,” she said. “For a long time we have maybe tolerated chanting in the stadiums, but today society does not accept them anymore.”Pierre Barthélemy, lawyer for the National Supporters Association of soccer fans replica football jerseys from China , said fans will work harder to improve the situation.“Supporters are sensitive to all forms of discrimination,” he said. “Supporters wish to participate and to contribute where they can to the fight for diversity, for equality and for respect.”Among the anti-discrimination groups attending was SOS Homophobia, whose co-president Jeremy Faledam welcomed the discussions.“We are starting a dialogue,” he said. “Sanctions are being taken — it allows us to start speaking about this subject. That’s good.”The debate was sparked by Le Graët’s comments in a radio interview on Tuesday.“To say that football is homophobic, and could be the only symbol of homophobia in France, that’s a bit strong. I don’t accept it,” Le Graët said. “We’ll make sure there are no more banners (in stadiums); that’s different. But stopping games, no.”France coach Didier Deschamps supported his president.“I know him well and I can assure you that he’s someone who’s always fought against all forms of discrimination in football www.thetopsoccer.com/spain ,” Deschamps said after France’s 3-0 win against Andorra on Tuesday in European Championship qualifying. “We all hope there won’t be any problems, but there are. It’s up to the authorities, including the sports minister, to find the best solutions.”Sports minister Roxana Maracineanu met with Le Graët at Tuesday’s match. In a statement Wednesday, the FFF said Le Graët has pledged his “full commitment” to fighting “all forms of discrimination.”The issue is proving divisive, with France players Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris offering different opinions.Griezmann, who has featured on LGBT magazine Têtu’s front cover and has said he would openly welcome gay players, told RTL radio that referees should stop games “whether it’s for homophobic chant or racist chants,” because eventually “people will stop doing it.”But Lloris Cheap Sweden Soccer Shirts , the France captain, thinks the opposite.“As a player I’m against stopping matches. It’s not the appropriate solution, whatever the form of discrimination,” Lloris said. “You have to fight against it, of course, but stopping matches isn’t necessarily the right solution. It’s not going to stop a minority of imbeciles from doing what they do inside a stadium. There are other solutions and we have to support the LFP, they will make the right decisions.”The high-profile first division match between Nice and Marseille on Aug. 28 was halted for several minutes during the first half after Nice fans unfurled three banners with homophobic messages. There was also chanting against the LFP with an anti-gay slur oft used by French fans.