The report submitted by the Ministry of Sports on Wednesday further weakened the president of the French Football Federation, who will nevertheless return to his duties.
During a press conference, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra gave a summary of the audit responsible for assessing the dysfunctions of the French Football Federation, Wednesday, February 15. The Minister of Sports supported the elements that already appeared in the interim report, submitted on January 30, pointing “illegitimacy” of President Noël Le Graët to lead the high authority of French football.
The future of the latter remains hazy. Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who confirmed that the 81-year-old leader “no longer has the necessary legitimacy to administer and represent French football”, refused to call for his resignation, citing “autonomy of federations” and the role to be played henceforth by the executive committee of the FFF, chaired by Noël Le Graët. “All of this belongs to the members of the authorities. The State has played its full role, only its role”, she assured. auditing, “it is not something that the Minister of Sports has chosen to do. We reacted urgently to shocking media revelations”. What are now the next steps for the “3F”?
Noël Le Graët back until the Comex meeting
“He stepped back until the conclusions of this audit. He will therefore reactivate his role as president for a time”, confirmed Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. The end of the mission of the Ministry of Sports also means the end of the interim of Philippe Diallo. A floating period will extend at least until the exceptional meeting of the Executive Committee of the FFF, the date of which is not yet known. On the occasion of this meeting, Noël Le Graët will have two choices: to remain in his post or to resign. In the latter case, the Comex could formalize the end of the mandate of President Le Graët, at the head of French football since June 2011.
If Noël Le Graët were to resign in the coming days, by his own doing, Philippe Diallo, who has been acting in place of Le Graët since January 11, would continue his task until the general meeting of the FFF on June 10, 2023. One of the 13 members of the Comex would then be appointed to take over the interim until at the end of the current mandate, in December 2024. New elections would then be organized at that time to designate the new president of the FFF.
The Comex can record the end of its mandate
Under pressure from his former running mates, Noël Le Graët can decide to give up his apron, but he can also cling to his post, which would then place his close guard in embarrassment. To make him leave, the members of the Comex would have no choice but to resign themselves to provoke an election.
The Comex may also initiate disciplinary proceedings against Le Graët. This lever, highlighted by the audit mission, can lead to the “radiation” of a licensee or a manager who is guilty of a “behaviour contrary to morals, ethics or damaging the honor, image or consideration of the FFF (…) or, more generally, of French football”according to federal regulations.
If he does not resign, other remedies are possible
In the absence of a decision by Noël Le Graët or the Comex, the amateur world can mobilize. An extraordinary general meeting of the FFF can indeed be convened to request the dismissal of the entire management team in place, Comex included, “at the request of a quarter of his members representing at least a quarter of the votes”, specify the statutes of the FFF.
New elections would then take place within two months to designate a new president. A process that can also be initiated by the High Authority for Football, the management control body of the FFF. According to the texts, “it can propose the dismissal of the Executive Committee to the Federal Assembly”, this decision beingtaken by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast..