France midfielder Diarra confirms cousin was killed in Paris attacks

Lassana Diarra

Diarra was playing for France in their 2-0 win over Germany at the Stade de France as events unfolded across the French capital which saw 129 people killed on Friday night.

Explosions could be heard from the pitch during the international friendly, although the players were not informed of the terror attacks until after the full-time whistle.

Diarra, now at Marseille, took to Twitter on Saturday to confirm his cousin Asta Diakite was one of those whose lives had been lost.

Diarra posted: ‘Good evening to everyone. After the dramatic events in Paris and St Denis yesterday it’s with a heavy heart that I address you today.

 ‘As you perhaps already read I have been personally affected by these attacks my cousin Asta Diakitie was among the victims of one of the shootings that took place, just like hundreds of other innocent French people. For me she was a great support, a big sister.

‘In the climate of terror it’s important for all of us, who are representatives of our country and its diversity, to speak up and stay united in the face of a horror which has neither colour nor religion.

‘Together we must protect, love, respect and peace. Thank you to everyone for your updates and messages. Take care of you and yours, and may the victims rest in peace.’

Diarra, 30, started and played 80 minutes in Friday night’s victory before being substituted. The French side stayed at the stadium until 3am before travelling back to their training centre 40 miles south west of Paris.

As well as the 129 known to have died, 352 people were also wounded in the attacks on Friday in Paris. It was later confirmed there were two suicide attacks and one bombing near the Stade de France, killing three people.

Diarra’s France team-mate Antoine Griezmann revealed on Saturday morning that his sister had escaped safely from a rock concert at the Bataclan Theatre, where more than 80 people were killed in the worst of the attacks.

The Atletico Madrid forward was substituted at the same time as Diarra in Friday’s friendly, with the pair replaced by Manchester United’s Morgan Schneiderlin and former Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa. Mail Online