Crisis at the FFF: Is Noël Le Graët living his last hours at the head of the Federation?

Europe 1 with AFP 9:22 p.m., February 27, 2023

Overwhelmed by controversy in recent weeks, the French Football Federation (FFF) and its Executive Committee (Comex) are to meet this Tuesday at 10 a.m.

In all likelihood, Noël Le Graët, retired from his duties last January, should, on this occasion, resign from his post as president.

After eleven years at the head of French football, the Breton leader may be running his last "Comex" at 87, boulevard de Grenelle, the Parisian headquarters of the country's most powerful sports federation, about to change era. .

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Hypothesis of a resignation

The entourage of the 81-year-old entrepreneur and several members of his close circle at the FFF, surveyed by AFP, recognize in any case a dynamic very favorable to the hypothesis of a resignation, after several months of turbulence.

"The resignation seems almost acquired," says a member of the executive committee.

Another evaluates at "99%" the chances of seeing the former mayor of Guingamp withdraw.

"I felt, even if it cost him a lot, that he was in this state of mind to put the interest of the Federation before his personal interest", assured Jean-Michel Aulas, close to Le Graët and member of the Comex, to the daily L'Equipe on Monday.

All, however, know better than anyone the unpredictable character - "stubborn" for some - of the Breton, who clings to his post for several weeks despite the headwinds.

Will his clumsy statements, his supposed misconduct, his decried management and the investigation of which he is the subject for moral and sexual harassment end up pushing him to let go of the bar?

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Dropped by his "Comex"

The audit report of the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), delivered on February 15, has no binding value, but it overwhelms the "Menhir" of French football, released for months by the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra who called on him to make "the right decisions".

According to the inspectors, Le Graët "no longer has the necessary legitimacy to administer and represent French football", particularly given his "inappropriate behavior (…) towards women".

If Breton's lawyers denounced an audit mission "resembling an indictment", subjected "to political and media pressure which could only bias it", Le Graët must now face the facts: his Comex , once so loyal, no longer supports him.

"He will not go out the front door, but if he stops now, he can still save the furniture and have an honorable exit", insists a regional League president, preferring to remain anonymous.

If the Breton entrepreneur leaves, the interim president Philippe Diallo will keep the reins until the Federal Assembly in June.

If he still clings to his chair, on the other hand, the discussions promise to be more stormy around the table.

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The Deacon case interferes

Some have said they are ready to resign from the "Comex" with a view to calling new elections - for that, half of its fourteen members would have to leave the ship, according to the statutes -, others seem more hesitant at the idea of give up their post.

The president of the League of Paris-Ile-de-France, Jamel Sandjak, preceded everyone by announcing his resignation on Thursday, noting the “powerlessness” of this body supposed to act as “government” of the Federation.

Whatever happens, keeping Le Graët in office seems illusory.

"Our lever to us, if he does not resign, it will be to bring him before a disciplinary committee", warned AFP the president of the National Council of Ethics (CNE) Patrick Anton, paving the way to a "radiation", a statutory device.

As for the High Authority for Football (HAF), the supervisory body, it has been calling on a specialized lawyer for ten days "to prepare for the possibility of convening an" elective Federal Assembly, a "procedure which does not is more to be ruled out," according to the minutes of its last meeting.

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Deacon's future at stake

At the heart of these debates, the staff of the "Fédé" will also have to position itself on a very inflammable case, that of the French women's team and its coach Corinne Deacon, weakened after the withdrawal of her three star players Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, who criticize his management.

Five months before the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20 - August 20), the crisis is insoluble.

Proving the players right by dismissing Deacon would amount to giving them power, a dangerous case law.

But inaction in the face of an unprecedented slingshot would undoubtedly destroy the chances of a title in Oceania...