his resignation, the accusations of harassment, the situation of Corinne Deacon… What to remember from the first words of Noël Le Graët

A few hours after his resignation from the post of president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Tuesday February 28, Noël Le Graët broke his silence during an interview with the newspaper the team. The one who was promoted to head of the Paris office of Fifa in the process returned to the last months which led to his fall.

A fall and tears

After eleven years at the head of the largest sports federation in France, Noël Le Graët left by the back door after resigning during the meeting of the executive committee of the FFF (Comex). He returned to his last moments. “Some (members) were very moved. It even surprised me, in a good way, and touched that some shed a little tear. The Comex did not let go of me, as I could read it“, hammered the former president of the Guingamp club, already thinking about the result. He notably confirmed the words of his lawyer present on the set of “C à vous” on France 5 who announced that he wanted to take legal action to “cancel ” the FFF audit report, commissioned by the Minister of Sports, which precipitated its fall.

Harassment charges swept aside

Noël Le Graët is also the subject of an investigation by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office for moral and sexual harassment. Accusations he denies en bloc. “I have never harassed anyone, neither morally nor sexually. I am surprised by this whole cabal. I don’t know who’s behind it, but I’ll find out eventually. I did nothing wrong and I am waiting to see the consequences with my lawyers.“

Before moving on to the disclosure of conversations involving him with Sonia Souid, a players’ agent with whom he had dealings. “I’ve never assaulted her and I’ve never texted her sexually. So what’s the story? And what is she doing in there? We can clearly see that it is a blow and that it has been mounted.“

Corinne Deacon, a dotted future

The other big question of the day concerned the coach of the French women’s team Corinne Deacon, weakened after the withdrawal of several players, including captain Wendie Renard, who criticized her management. If she will know her fate on March 9 at an upcoming Comex meeting, Noël Le Graët came to her rescue and defended her record. “Corinne hasn’t lost that many matches (8, in 72 matches). In any case, she is no worse than some men who were there before her. It has had three defeats since the World Cup (2019) where we were eliminated by the United States.“

The only downside, according to the former leader of the FFF, is the management of the captain’s armband which was removed from Wendie Renard when Deacon arrived at the head of the Bleues. An “error”, according to Le Graët because it would have taken place “without warning her and through the press.“