The president of the French Football Federation (FFF), already forced to withdraw from his duties, is now the subject of an investigation for moral and sexual harassment, which darkens his desire to return.
The investigation, confirmed to AFP by the Paris prosecutor’s office, was opened on Monday, January 16. She was entrusted to the brigade for the repression of delinquency against the person (BRDP) following the report for “sexist outrage” made, according to the daily The world, after the testimony of Sonia Souid, agent of several French internationals. These declarations had been collected by the auditors of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR) charged by the Ministry of Sports to clarify the many dysfunctions in terms of management within the body.
Sonia Souid had publicly denounced last week in the columns of The Team and on RMC radio the heavy advances of the former mayor of Guingamp (north-west), in post at the FFF since 2011, but increasingly contested due to the accumulation of controversies, unfortunate little phrases and revelations in the press on alleged sexist behavior towards former employees.
In a text sent this Tuesday by his lawyers, Noël Le Graët ” deny all (them) charges of moral or sexual harassment or any other criminal offenses “. The 81-year-old leader is surprised to learn ” through the press ” the opening of an investigation for moral and sexual harassment and castigates the “ much interference and political pressure came, according to him, from the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera as part of the audit carried out by the ministry.
The noose is tightening
With this first legal development, the noose is tightening around Noël Le Graët, already forced on January 11 to withdraw after the outcry caused by his sweeping remarks about Zinedine Zidane. The executive committee of the “3F”, the vast majority of whose members come from the list that the Breton presented before his last re-election in March 2021, had decided to let go of its leader, Philippe Diallo being appointed interim president.
Theoretically, Philippe Diallo, until now deputy vice-president of the FFF, must ensure the interim until the Comex following the publication of the audit report scheduled for the end of January. But the opening of this investigation compromises a little more the chances of Noël Le Graët to recover all of his prerogatives on this date, while the next meeting of this “government” of the Federation is scheduled for February 9.
(With AFP)