Deschamps, Benzema, Aulas: Noël Le Graët confides in Europe 1

It is an exceptional interview delivered by Noël Le Graët, the president of the French Football Federation on Saturday evening

of Europe 1 Sport.

For nearly an hour, the strong man of French football, at the head of the "3F" discussed all subjects, from racism in football to his relationship with Labrune and Aulas, including his own succession to the head of the FFF or the future of Didier Deschamps.

Noël Le Graët answered all questions from Lionel Rosso and our four listeners.

Selected pieces. 

The PSG-OM affair, "regrettable but not detrimental"

How to start the interview with the boss of French football without evoking the strong tensions which animated the PSG-OM of September 13 (0-1), marked by fourteen yellow cards and five red?

"We regret this kind of incident, of course. It was a match that ended badly when the show was not of poor quality. It was tight," he said first commented on the game in general.

"You know, the players are going to go to the disciplinary committee of the league anyway. They are surely sanctioned."

However, the president of the Federation refuses to see this match as a showcase for French football.

"We can not judge him through a match and especially gestures like that. I think it's regrettable, but not detrimental. We will forget very quickly: PSG will start scoring goals and we will forget. "

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Racism in football

Fifteen days after having said it for the first time, Noël Le Graët reaffirmed it on Europe 1: "Football is not racist".

The president of the FFF spoke on the subject two days after the very tense PSG-OM.

"In the locker room the players get along well. There can be bickering but between white and black there is no difference. You cannot control everything, especially the spectators. But football is not not racist. The players are proud to belong to a club and in general there is no gap between the players, "he said.

"No regrets" on the stoppage of Ligue 1 in March

"I do not regret this decision. It is a very good decision, because it is a health problem, we are not only in football", reiterated Noël Le Graët about the stop of the Ligue 1 in March, because of the health crisis linked to the coronavirus.

"It is a decision which was taken in consultation with the State, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health," recalls the president of the French Football Federation.

"You can understand that some did not like it, but I have no regrets. I found that it was the best decision at the time, and it was not easy to make. In relation to the disease, you know, I don't care if we miss a game of great importance. " 

A stadium without spectators, "it's not the same football"

If football has resumed its rights almost everywhere, some in France regret the lack of authorized spectators in the stadiums, with authorized gauges ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 people depending on the city.

"We must take into account the Covid, it's dramatic. It's not the same football, whether we like it or not," opines the Breton, who was one of the few people present during the France-Croatia match.

But he still welcomes "the effort made in France", while "for the moment, UEFA is zero everywhere in Europe. All international matches, whatever they are, there is nobody "in the stadiums.

On his succession at the head of the FFF

His term of office ending in spring 2021, Noël Le Graët also commented on the upcoming FFF elections and the question of his re-presentation.

"Frankly, I have not made a decision. When the electoral platform is in place, I will advise," he replied.

The president spoke of his possible successors, such as Marc Keller, his "remarkable friend from Strasbourg".

"There are others and it is extremely wide", he also noted.

What about Didier Deschamps and Michel Platini, two former footballers with a profile adapted to hold the reins of the Federation?

"Didier, he should be one day, he is very good. I often tease him," replied Noël Le Graët, who however judges that it is not yet the moment for the current coach.

"Michel Platini, I lost sight of him a bit. I don't know if he wants to, but I don't think so. I don't mean that he would not make an excellent president, it is not that at all. But I lost sight of him a bit and I don't know his intentions. " 

A "common interest" with Vincent Labrune

If he preferred the Denisot option - "Michel is a longtime friend" -, Noël Le Graët intends to work in good harmony with Vincent Labrune, who was elected president of the Professional Football League (LFP).

“The role of the Federation and the League is to have a cordial understanding. First of all, to have the same objectives,” he underlines.

"He was elected (...) It is normal that we have friendly relations first, then that we study together the projects in the common interest of football. In any case, I will do the normal efforts. I believe that we have a common interest, I do not see why we could not manage to find the same way on files which are sometimes difficult. "

"We need" Nasser Al-Khelaïfi

A few days after the Swiss prosecution's requisitions targeting Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the president of the FFF was cautious, and wished to emphasize the professionalism of the president of the PSG, concerned by the justice system as president of beIN Media.

"For the moment, we must see this case with a significant hindsight (...) it is likely to last some time", with "appeal and counter-appeal", replied Noël Le Graët.

"We need him (...) He is very present [in the authorities, note]. Strangely, contrary to what many people think, he misses no meeting and does not hesitate to give his opinion He accepts the contradiction and is rather loyal ", continues the president of the FFF.

Jean-Michel Aulas, "a good friend" who "likes to tickle"

He says it without forcing himself, Jean-Michel Aulas "is a good friend".

It is therefore natural that Noël Le Graët explains that he does not want the president of Olympique Lyonnais in any way, yet not always tender with him on social networks.

"First of all, I don't read everything, otherwise you just don't get by. He's a great leader. You can criticize Aulas for taking positions ... he likes the media, he likes to titillate. Said, everyone must give credit to this man who has been in place for quite a few years, with a club that owns his stadium and the girls who have perhaps the best team in the world "...

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"His language deviations, I don't pay much attention to it. There has never been any meanness, I have respect for him and I'm sure he does. That said, how many times I told him to stop tweeting, to stop chatting every day ... "

Didier Deschamps "is remarkable in his function"

Recurring question: until when will Didier Deschamps be the coach of the France football team?

Noël Le Graët's response, once again, is not surprising: "We are still far from 2022, it seems very close like that, but when we look, there are important competitions before that, with the Euro and the qualifications for Qatar [where the World Cup will be played in 2022,

] ".

"Didier Deschamps is remarkable in his position, he has achieved exceptional performances. I have confidence in him, we have had a common adventure for 7-8 years, we get along well. I have respect for what he is doing. done and he has total control of his squad. The players appreciate him, "commented Noël Le Graët.

What about his successor, who could be Zinédine Zidane?

"You always have to leave time to time. Didier is in place. We'll talk about that later."

He salutes the work of Corinne Deacon and regrets the attitude of Bouhaddi

Les Bleues were also on the menu for the interview with the boss of French football.

The opportunity for him to salute the good results of the team led by Corinne Deacon.

"Corinne works a lot. She took a team with strong personalities, she tried a number of young pushers, it may have upset some players but I think the results are more than honorable."

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Noël Le Graët also regretted the attitude of the experienced goalkeeper of the Blues and OL Sarah Bouhaddi, who announced that she no longer wanted to wear the national tunic as long as Corinne Deacon would be coach.

"I have this woman, but she punished herself because the jersey of the France team is something. So she is totally wrong," he said. 

His "dream" of seeing an Algeria-France in Algiers

The boss of the "3F" was rather pessimistic at the idea of ​​seeing an Algeria-France in Algeria.

"I've been at the Federation for eight years, I've always wanted to go to Algiers. We never managed to find an agreement. The president of the Algerian Federation wanted it, but I'm not sure that the Algerian state really wanted it ", he judged.

"It's a dream for me to go and play in Algeria. I don't know if during my term of office I would have time.

But it is a proposal that I made on several occasions to the Algerian leaders ", continued Noël Le Graët, while the two teams have faced each other only once, in October 2001 at the Stade de France. which was interrupted after the invasion of the field by Algerian supporters while the Blues of Zidane, world and European champion in title led 4-1.

Karim Benzema "is not suspended by the Federation", but ...

Will Karim Benzema ever return to the France team?

"He is not suspended by the Federation, the coach has all the rights to form the team he wants", kicked Noël Le Graët.

"That said, Didier and he perhaps had less friendship, less esteem," he nuanced.

"Do not forget also that there is still a case in progress which lasts for four years, I find that justice is a little slow".

In any case, the president of the FFF salutes the level of play of KB9, "a huge player who has just had an absolutely exemplary season with Real. He is one of the best European players over the past year. I have sporting esteem for him, "said the Breton, relying on his coach.

"It is up to him [Didier Deschamps] to find the complementary team, the team he feels best, and he has succeeded perfectly well since I remind you that we are world champion". 

Adrien Rabiot "cannot be punished forever"

Invited to comment on Adrien Rabiot's much-discussed return to Blue, the President of the Federation then wanted to be soothing.

“You can't, at 21, be punished forever. You can't leave him on the sidelines for a lifetime. He's a very, very good player, a boy who is adorable. He's charming and that's a youthful mistake, "said Noël Le Graët, commenting on the refusal of the Juventus player to be a reserve with the France team for the 2018 World Cup." He should have accepted, of course. He was selectable. and Didier chose the right moment since he is currently in great shape ".

Neymar, "an exceptional player" despite "some excesses"

Asked about the Brazilian genius Neymar, Noël Le Graët was above all keen to highlight the talent of No. 10 of PSG.

"Take a look at the quality of the player. He is an exceptional player, he is fabulous and he brings to the championship. Well, he has excesses, like the other day, when he is not in great shape and that he does not succeed in everything. He contests maybe a little too much but everyone has to admit that this player brings to the championship, that he is pleasant to watch. He is truly one of the best technicians in our territory. "

"Not thrilled at first" on the VAR, but now convinced

“At first I have to say that I was not excited. It was not part of the important objectives of the Federation. Today, although it is not perfect - the time between the hesitation and the final decision is a bit long - it gets better anyway. The VAR stops matches less, which I like better ", judge Noël Le Graët.

"There will always be refereeing errors," he also explained.

"In any case, I like it when the referee stays in control, when he decides if he should check an action he did not see well, but I do not like matches that are stop constantly ", he added before concluding:" Everyone has taken their marks today, the referee on the field and those who control, and I believe that today, if it is had to be redone, everyone would. "