• Noël Le Graët confirmed that Karim Benzema remained selectable despite his suspended sentence of one year in prison in the so-called sextape case. 

  • A position that questions the sidelining of the Madrid striker in 2016, even though he was presumed innocent. 

  • The general attitude of Le Graët on this file, not always readable, intervenes in a delicate context for the FFF, in the difficult financially and accused of propagating a toxic atmosphere within it. 

Go in one direction and suddenly start again in the other.

In football, we call it a counter-appeal, and if it is true that Noël Le Graët is no longer quite old enough to snap sprints on a field, his different positions over time in the so-called sextape affair prove that he masters the concept quite well.

Let us first recognize the "Prez" for not having changed course for a month: condemned or not, don't give a damn ... Karim Benzema made his comeback in the Blues at the Euro, so there is no question to let a criminal court - that of Versailles, which sentenced the French attacker to a suspended sentence and a 75,000 euros fine for complicity in an attempted blackmail - cut short the beautiful story, the one where KB19 raises his first trophy meanwhile, who knows, the third star.

A turnaround that is difficult to explain

NLG therefore declared on Wednesday, in remarks relayed by 

L'Equipe

, that “as regards the Federation, there is no change.

It remains selectable, while regretting this annoying file.

[…] This sanction does not change anything for me.

And this, even in the event of an unsuccessful appeal from Karim Benzema's lawyers.

From now on prevail the performance, the good behavior and therefore, Didier Deschamps, who chose to recall the Madrid striker in May, and cannot complain about it sportingly. 

A choice like any other if we fail to recall the ban on the attacker, sentenced for five years to feel the leather with the C team of Real on the side of Valdebebas at each international break, a direct consequence of the position taken of NLG before Euro 2016. At the time, he declared Benzema unselectable "until the legal situation evolves" and refused to "manage (this case) in people's court", pleading indecency.

Appeal against appeal.

Neither the first, nor the last, but this one is not to serve the image of a Fédé dogged for several months.

Toxic atmosphere at 3F

Last year, a

New York Times

investigation reported a 

 "toxic corporate culture" within 3F. In short, half a dozen employees and ex-employees of the federation described “a work environment in which inappropriate language, bullying and stress are a daily occurrence. "What the body of French football will respond to, among other measures, by setting up" anti-harassment "training, mandatory for its employees in early 2020.

The detail is not trivial. At the end of October 021, the French Football Federation was ordered by the Paris industrial tribunal to pay 10,000 euros in damages for acts of “sexual harassment” on a former employee. As mentioned by 

L'Equipe

, the complainant, trainee then hired on a fixed-term contract at the FFF, had filed a complaint in 2018 for “acts of continuous sexual harassment” and for “two attempts at sexual assault”. committed, according to his statements, by his hierarchical superior in the financial department, Marc Varin.

Not yet notified of the decision at the time of publication of the article, the Federation, warned in its time of the alleged actions of its financial director, had informed the sports daily that it "would appeal this decision", since the Paris prosecutor initially did not follow up on the young woman's accusations.

Contracts of discord

Another problematic condemnation for the Fed, in a less glowing economic context than before. The TF1-M6 group, current holder of the TV rights to the matches of the France team, responded to the call for tenders for the period 2022-2028 with a proposal estimated at 2.5 million euros, i.e. a million less than the 3.5 currently paid, which also corresponds to the reserve price. Not necessarily encouraging, the offer was politely refused. As a result, after two rounds of tendering, the Blues still do not know on which channel they will be broadcast next year.

Noël Le Graët also went on a crusade against the contract which binds the Blues to the Stade de France, which he will never renew "in [his] life". Too expensive, too unprofitable, in short, too much everything, the contract binding the FFF to the consortium of the sports venue is estimated at 8 million annually with the obligation to organize four matches at the Plaine Saint-Denis, meetings that larger world does want to broadcast, therefore.

The picture is dark, but not all black.

Le Graët can always be delighted with the “most beautiful contract in the world” signed with Nike: 50.5 million euros per year for 2018-2026.

Financial assurance that could allow the FFF to "present a balanced budget for the year 2021-2022" according to the person in

Le Parisien

, even though a forecast deficit of over 5 million euros was announced in June.

Finally, the social plan at the FFF ultimately concerned a little less employees than expected (22 positions including two vacant, against 26 positions including two vacant).

Proof that changing your mind is also good.

Sport

Valbuena sextape case: Karim Benzema sentenced to one year in prison, his lawyer appealed

Sport

Ballon d'Or: Didier Deschamps adds his voice to the support of Karim Benzema

  • Didier Deschamps

  • Karim Benzema

  • FFF

  • French football team

  • Soccer

  • Noël le Graët

  • Sport

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