Europe 1 with AFP 15:01 p.m., April 27, 2023

The former director of the French Football Federation, Florence Hardouin, filed a complaint for moral and sexual harassment against Noël Le Graët, former president of the "3F". In office since 2013, Florence Hardouin was suspended as a precautionary measure for serious misconduct on January 11.

The former director general of the French Football Federation (FFF), Florence Hardouin, has filed a complaint for moral and sexual harassment against the former president of the body, Noël le Graët, said Thursday to AFP his lawyer, confirming information from Le Monde. She was also heard "as a victim" on April 18 by investigators of the Brigade for the repression of delinquency against the person (BRDP) as part of the preliminary investigation of the Paris prosecutor's office for "sexual and moral harassment" against Noël Le Graët, according to two sources close to the case.

At the end of this hearing, she filed a complaint for moral and sexual harassment against the former boss of French football, said Margaux Matthieu. Florence Hardouin should be "heard again at the end of the investigation to discuss in more detail the dysfunctions of the FFF and the responsibility of its leaders," added the lawyer, who did not wish to comment. In office since 2013, Florence Hardouin was suspended as a precautionary measure for serious misconduct on January 11, at the end of a federal executive committee that also recorded the withdrawal of Noël Le Graët. But the FFF finally renounced the dismissal for serious misconduct.

A procedure at the prud'hommes to "obtain the nullity of his dismissal"

"She was dismissed for totally spurious reasons, including not having put in place the tools to fight against sexual harassment within the FFF," the lawyer said at the end of March. At the end of March, the 56-year-old former leader seized the Paris Labour Court to "obtain the nullity of her dismissal, as well as damages to repair the prejudice".

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She considers that she has suffered damage "in the context of the performance and termination of her employment contract and the possible violation of the employer's safety obligation towards her". The FFF and Florence Hardouin are summoned on June 1, according to Me Matthieu. In February, the lawyer had also seized the Defender of Rights, Claire Hédon, "to note the obstruction by the FFF to the status of whistleblower" of his client.