The inspection mission carried out by the Ministry of Sports is coming to an end, and its verdict is already known: Le Graët no longer has "the legitimacy necessary to administer" French football given "his behavior towards women, his public statements and failures of governance" within the first sports federation in France.

In the pre-report of January 30, the inspectors deliver a severe observation towards the 81-year-old leader, but not only.

The "brutal" management of general manager Florence Hardouin and the "clan logic" are pinned down.

As for the fight against sexual and gender-based violence, it appears "neither effective nor efficient".

The operation of the executive committee (Comex), sometimes referred to as a "registration chamber", is also pointed out.

This federal "government" of 14 people (including 12 voters), mostly running mate of Le Graët during his re-election in 2021, had until Monday to make observations to the inspectors, in the same way as Hardouin and the president.

The president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët (on the right), and the director general Florence Hardouin (on the left), in Paris, on December 12, 2015 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP / Archives

Report "mediocre"

According to AFP, a member of the Comex who requested anonymity judges the report "mediocre, full of blah-blah, in short political".

Le Graët's lawyers, Mes Florence Bourg and Thierry Marembert, for their part denounced a document "which looks like an indictment".

The 81-year-old leader, in office since 2011, feels a "deep sense of injustice" in the face of this audit mission, which they say is subject to "political and media pressure".

The observations and disputes of the various parties will be appended to the report which, on Wednesday, will become final.

The president of the French Football Federation Noël Le Graët on January 10, 2023, in Paris © Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP/Archives

The FFF Comex has planned to meet next, probably on Friday, to try to adopt a common position.

With, in the background, the question of the future of Le Graët.

Since mid-January, "NLG" has been the subject of an investigation for moral and sexual harassment, opened following a report made by the inspectors to the public prosecutor of Paris.

The latter indicated that they would transmit additional elements of information to justice.

Resignation and succession

“Can he stay in business as if nothing had happened?” Falsely wonders a member of the federal government, generally seduced by the interim provided by Vice-President Philippe Diallo.

The entourage of Le Graët assures that the leader "is not at all in the idea of ​​clinging to his post", "but he is worried about how the FFF will turn after his departure", knowing that the candidates for his succession are sharpening their weapons.

“At the Comex, they all look at each other like a faience dog,” notes this source.

Diallo presents himself as a natural suitor, a fine connoisseur of the mysteries of football and ministries.

Jamel Sandjak, the current president of the Ligue de Paris Île-de-France, is also not lacking in support.

The interim president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, during a hearing in the Senate, June 9, 2022 in Paris © Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP/Archives

All remain however suspended on the decision of Le Graët.

If the Breton leader does not resign, members of the Comex could themselves give up their aprons to provoke a new election.

Another hypothesis: the Federal Assembly, at the request of a quarter of its members, can meet to put an end to the mandate of the Comex.

Independently of these potential developments, the Comex can activate another lever to make the leader leave: initiate disciplinary proceedings against him based on federal texts which provide for a possible "radiation" in the event of "behaviour contrary to morality , ethics or damaging the honor, image or consideration of the FFF (...) or, more generally, of French football".

© 2023 AFP