The inspectors responsible for an audit of the French Football Federation have issued a report to the courts, Le Monde reports on Saturday, for a possible “sexist outrage” committed by President Noël Le Graët, who was surprised at the “leaks” in this file.
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The report was made to the public prosecutor of Paris after the testimony of Sonia Souid, agent of several French internationals, collected by the auditors of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), depending on the daily.
Le Graët is surprised by the leaks
“I was informed by the head of the IGESR that, on the basis of the testimonies collected by the FFF mission, she was led to make a report in accordance with article 40 of the code of criminal procedure, due to a bundle of concordant elements on facts likely to be criminalized”reacted the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, quoted by Le Monde.
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“I have just read with astonishment an article from Le Monde reporting leaks on the provisional report being prepared (by the IGESR)”reacted for his part Noël Le Graët in a statement sent to AFP.
“At this stage I know neither the facts of which I am accused nor the people who are behind them”he says. “More generally, I am surprised that information can be disclosed even though the interim report has not yet been sent to me and I have not been able to submit my observations on it”he said.
“My two breasts and my ass”
Agent Sonia Souid publicly denounced this week, to the daily L’Equipe and on RMC, the behavior deemed sexist by the person who has chaired the FFF since 2011.
“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 said. Referring to her past professional relationship with the boss of French football, she explains that she had the feeling “that each time, the only thing that interests him, and I apologize for speaking vulgarly, are my two breasts and my ass”.
Sexual or sexist outrage refers to a statement or behavior with a sexual or sexist connotation undermining a person’s dignity or exposing him or her to a distressing situation. The offense can be punished by a fine of up to 750 euros.
Noël Le Graët, under pressure for several days, was “withdrawn” of the presidency of the federation by the executive committee, meeting Wednesday in extraordinary session.
