Noel Le Graet has resigned as president of the French Football Federation (FFF) due to an investigation into sexual and moral harassment, the federation said on Tuesday.
Le Goulart, who has led the FFF since 2011, was forced to resign amid a judicial investigation into allegations of sexual and moral harassment and an adverse audit commissioned by the sports ministry.
Earlier this month, the audit found that Le Graet, 81, no longer had the “necessary legitimacy” to manage and represent French sport, and that “Le Graet’s inappropriate behavior towards women “emphasizes the
Le Grahe has denied any wrongdoing.
“Noël Le Graet has announced to the Executive Committee of the French Football Federation that he will resign,” the FFF said in a statement.
“Vice-President Philippe Diallo will act as Interim President of the FFF until the next Congress on June 10, 2023.
Le Graet has also come under fire from players and politicians for criticizing French world champion Zinedine Zidane.
They have criticized the extension of France coach Didier Deschamps’ contract until 2026, two years after his term as FFF manager expires.
However, according to ESPN, Le Goulart was selected by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to head the FIFA Paris office.
French football has been in turmoil in recent days, even after the national team lost to Argentina in Qatar last December and reached the final of the World Cup for the fourth time in the last seven competitions.
France’s coach Corinne Diacre has also come under fire after her captain Wendy Renard said last week that she will not be playing in this year’s Women’s World Cup.
According to a report published by French media outlet RMC Sport, Renard has said she will not play for the national team as long as Diacre is in charge.
Her international teammates Marie-Antoinette Catoto and Kadidiatu Diani have also said they are withdrawing from the national team.
ESPN added that Diacre’s fate as manager will be decided at a selection committee meeting on March 9.
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