French Football Federation: Le Graët convenes an extraordinary executive committee on Wednesday

Europe 1 with AFP 4:23 p.m., January 10, 2023

After the wave of indignation aroused Monday by his remarks on Zinedine Zidane, the noose is tightening on the president of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noël Le Graët, targeted by a damning testimony.

After a crucial hearing on Tuesday, the leader of "3F" decided to convene an extraordinary executive committee on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The troubles accumulate day after day for the president of the '3F'.

The statements of the Breton leader (81) on Sunday on RMC about the former world champion have obviously triggered a movement that the former PS mayor of Guingamp, despite his apologies on Monday, may not be able to counter.

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Target of a lynching in order Monday evening by the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, expressing the "fed up" felt at the top of the state according to a government source, the testimony of the players' agent Sonia Souid on BFM-TV and published on Tuesday in L'Equipe could well be fatal to her.

The first direct testimony of a woman from the same professional universe

"He told me face to face, in his apartment, very clearly, that if I wanted him to help me, I had to go to the pan", she says when she wanted to talk with him, recounting an appointment intended to promote women's football.

Referring to her past professional interactions, the agent explains that she had the feeling "that each time, the only thing that interests her, and I apologize for speaking vulgarly, are my two breasts and my ass".

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castera congratulated on twitter "Sonia Souid for the courage of (her) testimony". 

This is the first direct testimony from a woman evolving in her professional world, four months after an investigation by

magazine reporting inappropriate behavior, including the sending of sexual text messages, which the person concerned repeatedly denied.

The testimony of Sonia Souid, very moved on the images of BFM, augurs a complicated hearing for Noël Le Graët on Tuesday as part of the audit carried out by the Ministry of Sports to clarify in particular the managerial practices of the French Football Federation (FFF).

"He may be having a bad time, it's starting to smell bad," says a source close to political circles.

Several women have denounced the attitude of Le Graët

The first elements of this long-awaited report, and which the Minister of Sports wants to give quickly to the members of the Comex of the FFF so that he can "take his responsibilities", have already leaked on France Inter.

The radio revealed on Tuesday that "several women" had "denounced (...) the attitude of Noël Le Graët towards them", which was confirmed to AFP by a source familiar with the matter.

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According to France Inter, a former executive had "shown the inspectors text messages and WhatsApp messages", which "are certainly not illegal, but (...) raise questions given the hierarchical link that existed between them".

"He calls a lot. I have voicemails and a few text messages", also assured Sonia Souid in her testimony.

No dismissal of the president by the Comex

Monday evening, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra clearly asked the Comex of the FFF to act, the 14 members of this government of French football are indeed the only ones authorized to push Le Graët towards the exit.

Technically, the political power does not have the possibility of dismissing the president of the FFF, which would also provoke the ire of the International Federation (Fifa) which prohibits any state intervention.

One of the Comex members, who requested anonymity, estimated, even before Sonia Souid's testimony, that the leader's situation will in any case be untenable in the days and weeks to come.

"There is going to be a terrible groundswell, he is going to have to go. The minister is right, he is completely above ground. It is an uncontrolled communication, but when you are president of a sports federation, the largest in France, we control ourselves“, explained this source.