RMC Sport report this morning that Noël Le Graët has resigned as French FA president during this morning’s executive board committee, which has been accepted by the other members.
The FFF chief had stepped back from his duties at the start of January, as requested by the committee, in the wake of his dismissive comments on Zinédine Zidane’s chances of becoming France manager, and pending the conclusions of an audit into the organisation. The conclusions of the government-mandated audit, which were released two weeks ago, have notably accused him of multiple instances of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour, which he denies.
Le Graët had briefly resumed his role as president for this morning’s session – during which France women’s manager Corinne Diacre’s future will also be at stake – and announced his resignation forty minutes in. He was at the helm of the FFF from 2011, and was due to finish his fourth term in 2024.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
Noël Le Graët has resigned from his position of French FA (FFF) president during the organisation’s executive board meeting this Tuesday, as announced by the organisation itself. Le Graët had been in his position since 2011 but stepped back from his duties at the start of January, notably in the wake of his derogatory comments about legendary playmaker Zinédine Zidane’s chances of managing the French national team.
Le Graët’s decision to resign comes amid a rapid decline in support in the wake of the final conclusions of the government-mandated audit into the FFF, which have notably accused him of multiple instances of sexual harassment. Sports Minister Oudéa-Castéra had commissioned said audit last autumn amid an investigation from magazine So Foot on Le Graët’s behaviour and the management of the FFF. The auditors’ findings have been passed on to the authorities this month and prosecutors have opened an investigation over “bullying and sexual harassment”, Le Graët denying the accusations.
The hearings auditors have carried out brought to light alleged inappropriate behaviour on Le Graët’s part towards female colleagues, including text messages of a sexual nature, many of which sent late in the night and repetitively, with the recipients of the messages being women under his authority within the FFF. Auditors have also added that this behaviour was exacerbated by alcohol consumption. In conclusion, the audit indicated that the former EA Guingamp president “no longer has the necessary legitimacy to manage and represent French football.” This morning, Le Graët has taken the audit’s conclusions to the letter.