Noël Le Graët, president of the FFF since 2011, is a candidate for a fourth term.
The Breton will have as main challengers the former boss of the Pro Football League (LFP) Frédéric Thiriez and the entrepreneur Michel Moulin.
President since 2011, Noël Le Graët intends to keep the helm of the powerful French Football Federation (FFF) after the March elections for which he stood as a candidate on Thursday, ready at 79 to take up the gauntlet against Frédéric Thiriez and Michel Moulin.
Le Breton unveiled his intentions in front of the elected members of the executive committee ("Comex") in Paris, before formalizing it in a letter to amateur and professional clubs, leagues and districts, and other football players (unions, High Authority , etc.).
"After having widely consulted the actors of French football in recent weeks, and the members of the Executive Committee of the FFF this morning, I decided to ask for the renewal of your confidence, by presenting to you my candidacy for the presidency of our Federation" , he wrote in this letter that AFP was able to consult.
The elected representatives of the Comex approved his candidacy "unanimously" during a tour de table concluded with a "strong acclamation", according to sources close to the body.
The announcement "was received by collective applause, everyone was delighted," OL president Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed to AFP, offering his full "support" to the president in place.
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Frédéric Thiriez and Michel Moulin, the two main challengers
If the announcement puts an end to a very relative suspense, it marks the real kickoff of the campaign before the close of applications on February 11.
Among the known figures, only the lawyer and former leader of the Professional Football League Frédéric Thiriez, as well as the entrepreneur and club advisor Michel Moulin, had come out of the woods.
The boss of the rich and starred FFF leaves favorite for a new four-year term, ahead of his two main challengers, but the game is not over before the federal assembly of March 13, during which the votes of the world amateurs (63%) will weigh more heavily than those of professional clubs.
In his close guard, Thiriez can count on Basile Boli, European champion in 1993 with OM.
The 68-year-old senior official, known for his eloquence and recognizable by his long mustache, also hopes to rally Luis Fernandez, another former glory of the France team, to his cause.
At 60 years old, Moulin displays on his CV initiatives in the specialized press (ParuVendu) and sports (Le 10 Sport), as well as a rich but contrasting experience of manager and adviser at Red Star, Le Mans or even briefly at Paris SG .
He is currently president-delegate of Blois in National 2.
Le Graët supported by Deschamps
Candidates have less than a month to set their program, obtain the ten necessary sponsorships from the presidents of leagues, districts, professional clubs or members of the High Authority of football, and provide a list of twelve candidates (including three women) to sit on the future federal Comex, president included.
Le Graët knows that he can count on many allies, both among professional clubs and within several leagues and districts, these decentralized bodies that populate the world of amateur football.
The former president of En avant Guingamp (1972-1991 and 2002-2011), weakened by leukemia in 2018, can also take advantage of the strong support of Didier Deschamps, captain at the 1998 Mondial and coach at the 2018 Mondial won by the Blues.