Noel Le Graet resigns as President of French Football after Sexual Harassment Allegations
Paris: French Football President Noel le Graet has resigned from his post as the president following accusations of sexual harassment and a damning audit report into the organization which led to bombshells being dropped, Vice-president Philippe Diallo will remain as interim president until June when a permanent successor will be chosen.
The Audit report also said that “Considering his conduct towards women, his public comments and the governance failings of the FFF, Mr Le Graet no longer has the necessary legitimacy to run and represent French football,” the report concluded when it was published earlier this month.
It also said Le Graet, who has always denied any wrongdoing, should not return to his role because his “behavioral excesses are incompatible with the carrying out of his functions”.
The tenure so far
Le Graet was appointed in 2011 when French football was not in one of the best shapes. They had recently been knocked out of the world cup and were underperforming.
And cut forward to this day France in these 11 years of Graet’s tenure has won 1 world cup 1 UEFA nations league and finished runners up in the World cup 2022 to Argentina and 2016 euros to Portugal.
Before he stepped down from his position he extended Dieder Deschamps contract as the national coach till 2026.
The Troubles
The French government began the audit in October after being made aware of sexual harassment and bullying allegations at the organization, which the FFF has denied,
Announcing his resignation on Tuesday, the FFF said it “recognizes the remarkable sporting and economic performance of Noel le Graet”.
Referring to the audit, it added: “The FFF nevertheless notes that the report is based less on objective facts than on comments that have sometimes led to exaggerated bad-mouthing of the body.”
He was also heavily criticized for his comments on French Legend and Former Real Madrid Coach Zinedine Zidane which were criticized by all players especially Kylian Mbappe who even tweeted saying “Respect’.
Le Graet’s resignation comes after the captain of the women’s team Wendie Renard and two other players have said they will not play in the upcoming world cup and criticized the country’s football “system”.France is due to play at the Women’s World Cup later this summer and Diallo said a decision on head coach Corinne Diacre’s future would be taken “very soon”.
What’s Next
Several members of the FFF have said that Le Graet will continue his role with the world governing body Fifa. In January 2022, he was appointed as Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s delegate in the organization’s new office in Paris. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said Infantino had “seized the opportunity to use Noel’s capabilities”, adding “if that means indirectly that it comes at a good time for Noel, it’s a good thing”.
