Le Graet no longer has  legal authority to represent French football

• Graet no longer has the necessary legitimacy to represent French football.
• The 81-year-old is under investigation for sexual harassment.
• He was forced to resign earlier this month.

Noel Le Graet, the scandal-plagued head of the French Football Federation under investigation for sexual harassment, “no longer has the requisite legitimacy to administer and represent French football,” according to a report into governance difficulties at the organisation seen by AFP on Monday.

Following accusations against the 81-year-old Le Graet, who was forced to resign earlier this month until its conclusion, the French Ministry of Sports requested an audit of the FFF. The report is the result of that audit.

“Considering his conduct towards women, his public comments and the governance failings of the FFF, Mr Le Graet no longer has the necessary legitimacy to run and represent French football,” the report said, adding that the body’s handling of cases of sexist and sexual violence was “neither effective nor efficient”.

Following allegations made against him by football agent Sonia Souid, Paris authorities are currently investigating Le Graet for sexual and psychological harassment.

The investigation claimed that his attitude towards women “may be characterized at the very least as sexist”, and said that there was evidence his actions was “likely to be considered as unlawful”.

He claims he has done nothing wrong.

Despite having already stepped down and been replaced on an interim basis by vice-president Philippe Diallo, FIFA still recognizes Le Graet as president.

The study also criticized the body’s director general, Florence Hardouin, who has also been suspended from her position.

The directors of the FFF have been given till February 13 to respond to the report’s conclusions.

Le Graet’s term as president of the organization expires in 2024, however the executive committee of the organization has the authority to call a special general assembly and ask members to vote to remove Le Graet from office.

Less than a month after reaching the World Cup final in Qatar and narrowly missing out on maintaining their title to Argentina by one point on penalties, France has been dogged by the scandal.

Le Graet, the FFF’s president since 2011, had already been the target of calls for his resignation, including those from Amelie Oudea-Castera, the minister of sports, after making disparaging comments in a recent radio interview about Zinedine Zidane’s potential interest in leading the national team.

Didier Deschamps, who has been the head coach since 2012, has extended his contract to keep working until 2026.

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