Noël Le Graët, the president of the FFF, under the influence of a report for "sexist outrage"

Noël Le Graët, the big boss of the French Football Federation, sees his future darken further with this report emanating from the ongoing audit within the organization.

This is not likely to help Noël Le Graët’s business. The very powerful boss of the French Football Federation, or FFF, has been the subject of an audit for several months by the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR) in order to find out whether or not shortcomings in the management of the teams, and to respond to accusations of sexism and sexual harassment from former employees. Noël Le Graët is under fire from critics a few days after harshly criticizing Zinédine Zidane, and even had to step back from his post.

Noel Le Graet “withdrawn” since January 11 following the Zidane affair

At 81, the one who told the FFF council that he was “innocent” shortly before his withdrawal, is now the subject of a report from the IGESR for “sexist outrage” with the public prosecutorannouncement The world. This is the testimony of Sonia Souidwhich in particular led the inspectors in charge of the audit to report the facts, the agent reporting text messages and calls “pressing and tendentious”in particular through invitations to dinners by the person who must normally remain in post until December 2024. This report echoes the investigation led by the investigation unit of Radio France and which highlighted several testimonials from former employees, speaking in particular of “hand on thigh” and of “indecent proposals”. They too were interviewed.

The case now in the hands of the Paris public prosecutor

The judicialization of the case is nevertheless likely to stain, while Noël Le Graët has always denied these accusations, and that he had assured his collaborators of the comex – the executive of the FFF – to be sure and certain to be cleared of what he is accused of. The provisional report of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research is expected for the end of January, before a final submission to the Minister of Sports in February. He must in particular clarify the accusations concerning Florence Hardouin, the general manager of the FFF, laid off on January 11, and accused of having covered up the affairs surrounding his president.. She has since been hospitalized, announces the daily, and considers serving as “fuse”. It remains to be seen whether the prosecutor will follow up on this activation of Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, requiring that “every officer or civil servant must report crimes or misdemeanors of which he is aware”.