The troubles accumulate day after day for the president of the +3F+.
The statements of the Breton leader (81) on Sunday on RMC about the former world champion have obviously triggered a movement that the former PS mayor of Guingamp, despite his apologies on Monday, may not be able to counter.
Target of a lynching in order Monday evening by the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, expressing the "fed up" felt at the top of the state according to a government source, the testimony of the players' agent Sonia Souid on BFM-TV and published on Tuesday in L'Equipe could well be fatal to her.
"We had to go to the pan"
"He told me face to face, in his apartment, very clearly, that if I wanted him to help me, I had to go to the pan", she says when she wanted to talk with him, recounting an appointment intended to promote women's football.
Referring to her past professional interactions, the agent explains that she had the feeling "that each time, the only thing that interests her, and I apologize for speaking vulgarly, are my two breasts and my ass".
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera congratulated on twitter "Sonia Souid for the courage of (her) testimony".
The president of the French Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graët, on October 17, 2022 in Paris © FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Archives
This is the first direct testimony from a woman evolving in her professional world, four months after an investigation by So Foot magazine reporting inappropriate behavior, including the sending of sexual text messages, which the person concerned repeatedly denied.
The testimony of Sonia Souid, very moved on the images of BFM, augurs a complicated hearing for Noël Le Graët on Tuesday as part of the audit carried out by the Ministry of Sports to clarify in particular the managerial practices of the French Football Federation (FFF).
"It is possible that he is having a bad time, it is starting to smell bad," says a source close to political circles.
The first elements of this long-awaited report, and which the Minister of Sports wants to give quickly to the members of the Comex of the FFF so that he can "take his responsibilities", have already leaked on France Inter.
Infographic on the various presidents of the French Football Federation since its creation in 1919 © Ayoub SIMOUR, Sophie RAMIS, Paz PIZARRO / AFP
The radio revealed on Tuesday that "several women" had "denounced (...) the attitude of Noël Le Graët towards them", which was confirmed to AFP by a source familiar with the matter.
According to France Inter, a former executive had "shown the inspectors text messages and WhatsApp messages", which "are certainly not illegal, but (...) raise questions given the hierarchical link that existed between them".
"He calls a lot. I have voicemails and a few text messages", also assured Sonia Souid in her testimony.
"Completely Above Ground"
Monday evening, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra clearly asked the Comex of the FFF to act, the fourteen members of this government of French football are indeed the only ones authorized to push Le Graët towards the exit.
Technically, the political power does not have the possibility of dismissing the president of the FFF, which would also provoke the ire of the International Federation (Fifa) which prohibits any state intervention.
"There is going to be a terrible groundswell, he is going to have to go. The minister is right, he is completely above ground. It is an uncontrolled communication, but when you are president of a sports federation, the largest in France, we control ourselves“, explained this source.
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