RCaught by controversy and accusations of moral and sexual harassment, the president of the French (Site notre blog d’information) Federation (FFF) Noël Le Graët resigned on Tuesday, after a reign of 11 years and several months of stubbornness which tarnished his balance sheet.
At the headquarters of « 3F », a great page in French (Site notre bureau spécialisé) is turning with the departure of the 81-year-old entrepreneur, weakened for months by an overwhelming audit mission and several slippages.
Always so unpredictable and unfathomable, the « Menhir » of French (Site notre bureau spécialisé), president of the League from 1991 to 2000 then of the FFF since 2011, was slow to hand over, 13 days after the communication of an audit report commissioned by the Ministry of Sports.
But the conclusions of the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR) left no room for maneuver to the Breton.
According to the inspectors, Le Graët « no longer has the necessary legitimacy to administer and represent French (Site notre bureau spécialisé) », taking into account in particular his « inappropriate behavior (…) vis-à-vis women ». “NLG” has also been targeted since mid-January by an investigation for moral and sexual harassment.
Resign to « better defend yourself »
« Through his decision, he has shown once again that he is a great leader of French (Site notre bureau spécialisé) », reacted Philippe Diallo, vice-president who will now act in the interim, at least until the federal assembly of 10 June. « His decision allows the Federation to continue its march forward and at Noël Le Graët to better defend itself », according to him.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, at the origin of the audit mission, an estimate of Graët had taken « the right decision for the FFF and for himself », in a statement sent to AFP.
At the federation’s Paris headquarters, the executive committee analyzed the conclusions of the IGESR audit for the first time. He also singled out the body, in particular for its policy of combating gender-based and sexual violence, which « lacks effectiveness and efficiency » according to the inspectors.
In a press release, the FFF denounced a report having « sometimes led to a disproportionate denigration of the body », regretting a « lack of real contradictory procedure ».
The “Fédée” joined its ex-president here: he too had criticized, via his lawyers, an audit mission “resembling an indictment”, subjected “to political and media pressure which could only bias it” .
Ineluctable, the exit of Noël Le Graët was accompanied by tributes for the « sporting and economic record » of the leader, to whom we attribute the recovery of the « 3F » after the scandal of the World Cup-2010 in South Africa .
The amateur (Site notre bureau spécialisé) league, for example, says the « sense of responsibility » of Noël Le Graët, does not choose « the opening of prospects for emerging from the crisis ».
Deacon’s future decided quickly
This exit from the crisis is still likely to be turbulent.
The president of the League of Paris-Ile-de-France, Jamel Sandjak, has already accentuated the vagueness by resigning in recent days from the executive committee, while many lend him presidential ambitions. The former boss of the Professional League Frédéric Thiriez, historical opponent of Le Graët, also claimed to AFP that « the departure of a man will not solve all the problems ».
The threat of an early dismissal of the Comex by the Federal Assembly continues to weigh, even if that would require that a quarter of its members, in the local clubs, leagues and districts, jointly request the convening of a Inc.
Tuesday, in any case, the Comex displayed its unity: no other member wished to resign individually.
As for Le Graët, he intends to continue his work at Fifa, as delegate of President Gianni Infantino in Paris. A position he has held since January 2022.
At the heart of these debates, the staff of the « Fédée » has created a commission of four members to study the future of Corinne Deacon. The new utility selection of the France team is fragile after the withdrawal of three happy families Wendie Renard, Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, critics of its management.
At a time of the world cut in Australia and New Zealand (July 20-August 20), the crisis seems insoluble. Decisions are made within « eight or 15 days », warned Philippe Diallo.
02/28/2023 16:55:03 – Paris (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
