Just hours before the highly anticipated clash between Lyon and PSG at Groupama Stadium , Lucas Chevalier found himself thrust into the heart of an unexpectedly large controversy. The cause? A simple "like" on Instagram, under a post linked to the National Rally. Screenshots quickly circulated, triggering a wave of criticism and accusations against him. The Parisian goalkeeper, signed this summer for €40 million, quickly removed the "like," but the damage was already done, and social media erupted. In a particularly tense political climate, this act, interpreted as a sign of sympathy for the far right, sparked immediate outrage, especially among the most left-leaning Parisian supporters. The public support shown by Eric Ciotti, a far-right MP known for his controversial statements , certainly didn't help the wave of criticism directed at Lucas Chevalier.
On social media, the anger was immediate. Messages proliferated on X and Instagram, with some supporters calling for a boycott of the player, others going so far as to demand his departure from the club and the return of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Virulent insults were hurled, while several members of the Collectif Ultras Paris, deeply committed to anti-racist values, expressed their outrage. PSG , aware of the sensitivity of the issue, tried to calm the situation, preferring to focus on the match against Lyon. But the controversy overshadowed the sporting stakes and threatened to disrupt the locker room. In a multicultural team like PSG, where cohesion is based on diversity and mutual respect, the slightest ambiguity surrounding these issues becomes explosive.
Chevalier reacts in the middle of the night
For Lucas Chevalier, this affair couldn't have come at a worse time. Already criticized for his inconsistent performances since his arrival , the former LOSC goalkeeper is still struggling to win over the Parisian public. His difficult adaptation is now compounded by a climate of mistrust fueled by social media. Some observers point out, however, that a like doesn't necessarily reflect political support and that it can be a harmless or clumsy gesture. Others see it as a symptom of an era where every click becomes a public act, where the slightest lapse in attention can ruin a reputation. Faced with the severity of the accusations and the scale of the reactions, Lucas Chevalier finally spoke out to explain himself in the middle of the night, around 4:00 AM, on Instagram: " I saw what was being said about me regarding the fact that I liked a post on Instagram with a political stance, which I obviously don't share." I'm not trying to convince you, but it's disheartening to know that by scrolling and unknowingly liking a post, you're informed that your image has been completely tarnished for an accidental action. It pisses me off. The damage is done, and the die is cast. You tried to portray me as a fascist, and it wasn't just me you targeted, but my entire family .
The situation is all the more delicate as Chevalier is now one of the players called up to the French national team for every international break, a status that demands impeccable conduct. In the rest of his lengthy Instagram story, he said he was deeply affected by the judgments made against him, stating that he did not share them: “ I will never play the victim, but the lines have been crossed, and by a long shot. Furthermore, some people are using this to justify my mediocre sporting performances when they have absolutely no understanding of the goalkeeper position. It's the same people from the beginning, and they seem to enjoy it. Anyway. I wanted to apologize for the inconvenience caused, because ultimately, I am the one in charge. I have always tried to be a good person in my daily life and on the pitch, and I will continue to do so. I don't often speak out, but it was necessary today because the world we live in is tending to go haywire.” "I truly never thought I'd one day have to explain myself about this completely ludicrous matter on social media ." Through his words, Chevalier attempts to heal a wound, caught between defending his integrity and seeking reconciliation. It remains to be seen whether this mea culpa will be enough to quell the controversy and allow him to refocus.
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