FFF: Noël Le Graët under investigation for moral and sexual harassment

The president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët in Doha during the World Cup in Qatar on November 19, 2022. AP - Christophe Ena

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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.

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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

Le Monde

, 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

L'Équipe

and on RMC radio the heavy advances of the former mayor of Guingamp (north-west), in post at the FFF since 2011, but more and more contested because of the accumulation of polemics, unfortunate little phrases and revelations in the press on supposed sexist behavior vis-à-vis former employees.

In a text sent on Tuesday by his lawyers, Noël Le Graët " 

denies all

(the)

accusations of moral or sexual harassment or any other criminal offenses

 ".

The 81-year-old leader is surprised to learn " 

through the press 

" of the opening of an investigation for moral and sexual harassment and castigates the "

 many interferences and political pressures

 " coming, according to him, from the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera as part of the audit commissioned by the ministry.

The noose is tightening

With this first judicial development, the noose is tightening around Noël Le Graët,

already forced on January 11 to step back

after the outcry caused by his cookie-cutter remarks on Zinédine 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)

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