Noel Le Graet, head of French football mired in scandal, resigns

• Noel Le Graet, head of French football mired in scandal, resigns.
• Coach had coincided with the resurgence of France’s men’s national team.
• The 2019 Women’s World Cup was successfully hosted by France under his direction.

Noel Le Graet, the head of the French Football Federation, resigned on Tuesday as a result of allegations of sexual and mental harassment, ending more than ten years in office.

The 81-year-tenure old’s as the coach had coincided with the resurgence of France’s men’s national team as a force, with their World Cup success in 2018 followed by a run to last year’s final in Qatar, where they lost on penalties to Argentina.

Le Graet’s retirement, however, comes 13 days after the publication of a devastating study into the management practices at the Paris-based FFF that the French Ministry of Sports had requested.

The investigation stated that Mr. Le Graet “no longer has the required legitimacy to operate and represent French football due to his conduct toward women, his public comments, and the governance inadequacies of the FFF.”

Le Graet had previously consented to resign in the interim while the audit’s findings were being finalized, and it was determined that he should not do so because of his “behavioural excesses are incompatible with the carrying out of his tasks.”

Last month, it was made public that Le Graet, whose term was set to expire in 2024, was under investigation for sexual and psychological harassment as a result of claims made by Sonia Souid, a female football agent.

After making disparaging statements regarding former France star Zinedine Zidane’s probable interest in coaching the national team during a radio interview in early January, he was already facing the heat.

That came after Didier Deschamps, a veteran coach, had his deal extended to 2026. When asked about Zidane, Le Graet told, “I wouldn’t even have taken his call.”

Le Graet announced his resignation at a federation executive committee meeting on Tuesday; committee members told AFP that Philippe Diallo will continue to serve as interim president.

Le Graet initially stepped down in January, and Diallo, federation vice-president, was promoted to take over. Diallo is anticipated to hold the position at least until a permanent replacement is elected in June.

In a statement, the federation stated, “The FFF recognizes Noel Le Graet’s excellent sports and economic performance,” before criticizing the audit’s writers.

It said, “The study does not highlight any systematic failing. “The FFF observes that report is based less on objective facts than on remarks that have occasionally resulted in exaggerated bad-mouthing of the body,”

Le Graet, a former socialist mayor of the small Brittany town of Guingamp, presided over the local football team’s ascent to prominence as a premier league contender.

After the national team’s dismal performance in the 2010 World Cup, when players went on strike, he then was elected president of the FFF in 2011. At the time, the French game was in ruins.

France reached the Euro 2016 final as hosts under Le Graet’s direction in 2012, and they then made back-to-back World Cup final appearances.

The 2019 Women’s World Cup was successfully hosted by France under his direction.

“He is a superb manager. One of the best-run federations is this one “insisted on Tuesday the seasoned Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, a significant FFF executive committee member.

Le Graet’s resignation, though, also occurs while the issue among the France women’s squad is getting worse.

With only five months until the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, a number of prominent players, led by captain Wendie Renard, announced last week that they would no longer represent France under the current system.

This has cast considerable question on the future of coach Corinne Diacre, who had Le Graet’s support.

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