The former boss of French football was questioned on Tuesday by the commission investigating the dysfunctions of the French Football Federation of which he was president for almost 12 years.
No excuses, no big revelations. Noël Le Graët was heard by the commission of inquiry of the National Assembly, responsible for studying the dysfunctions of the French Football Federation, Tuesday November 7. Many questions were asked of the ex-president of “3F”, from June 2011 to January 2023, and like Didier Deschamps, questioned five days earlier, he did not really answer them. But, unlike the Blues coach, who seemed in complete control, Noël Le Graët gave the impression of being overwhelmed by events.
>> Also read: Harassment, remarks on racism and homophobia, slip-ups on Zidane… The files which plague the presidency of Noël Le Graët at the FFF
Almost systematically forgetting to open his microphone, he began his hearing with ten minutes of autobiography without this being asked by the Commission. “I have to remind you that I will be 82 on Christmas Day”. These are the first words he uttered just after taking the oath “subject to”insisting on the fact that there is “an ongoing investigation” and that he does not have “no right to express yourself on what has not yet been judged”. Enough to announce the color.
Noël Le Graët reveals nothing and takes “note”
He admitted that he did not want to comment on the complaint he filed against Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the Minister of Sports. He gave no explanation for the departures of six women from his management committee since 2016. “I didn’t deal directly with the staff. I was surprised”. THE “gritty jokes” pointed out by his former vice-president Brigitte Henriques before the same commission? “An unfortunate joke, it’s possible.” The case of sexual blackmail against young referees in the Paris League revealed in September 2022? “I learned about it last week following the hearing of the boss of the referees at your place.”
Constantly praising the competence of the services within the FFF, he did not take responsibility for any dysfunction. “That there are some small errors, I am willing to accept, but not to be accused of all the evils, on facts which do not really concern me.” Terms which pushed Stéphane Buchou, deputy for the 3rd constituency of Vendée, to express his annoyance “to hear these comments which consist of saying: ‘I have colleagues who are doing their work. Move along, there is nothing to see, I am not aware of it'”.
“Mr. Diallo, Mr. Deschamps, Mr. Borghini, everyone, unanimously, told us that it was you who decided almost everything at the FFF.”
Rapporteur Sabrina Sebaihiduring the hearing of Noël Le Graët, Tuesday
Faced with very specific questions from the rapporteur, Noël Le Graët admitted despite himself the inaction of his federation in the face of cases of sexual assault. When an employee filed a complaint against financial director Marc Varin for events that occurred in Moscow during the 2018 World Cup, the accused was simply summoned and did not receive any sanction.
He regrets his comments on homophobia
“We reproached him relatively sharply so that it wouldn’t happen again”, dared Le Graët. As for the Angélique Roujas affair, coach accused of sexual violence, some of which was against minors between 2005 and 2013 (whose career continued despite everything), Noël Le Graët asked: “What could we do?”. The rapporteur replied: “Withdraw your license?” The latter simply replied: “I note.”
The latter only regretted one thing, having said in 2019 that he would stop meetings for “racist cries” but not for “homophobia”. “I regret having used those words. I was lucky enough that my daughter gave me a soap on the way home. It made me very sad and I felt a little clumsy. In football, I’m sure everyone these imbeciles who shout these words are not homophobic but stupid.“ Noël Le Graët strongly insisted on the fact that his visits to centers treating victims of homophobia had “exchange”to the point of saying “my poor Noël, how could you say that?”