In an interview with the “world”, the ex-president of the French Football Federation denounces “many political interference” and affirms that he “will dispute before the administrative court” the report of which his management made the object. His lawyer also announces a complaint for “defamation” against the Minister of Sports.
Interview by Rémi Dupré
At 81 years old, Noël Le Graët resolved to resign from the presidency of the French Football Federation (FFF), Tuesday, February 28, during a meeting of the executive committee of the “3F”, the “Comex “. This abdication comes fifteen days after the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, an audit report overwhelming with the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR). Also targeted by a preliminary investigation of the Paris prosecutor’s office for “sexual and moral harassment”, Mr. Le Graët returns, in an interview with the world, on his fall, his record, and affirms that the report of the Igesr will be disputed before the Administrative Court. His lawyer, Florence Bourg, also affirms to the world that a complaint will be filed for “defamation” before the Court of Justice of the Republic against the Minister of Sports for “Manipulation of information”.
how do you You announce your resignation this morning to the “Comex”?
I said, without tremolos in my voice, the pride that I had to work at the FFF. All the members of the Executive Committee paid tribute to my, our record and were very complimentary. Even if I am not naive. The FFF has advanced a lot over the past twelve years. I surely have a share of responsibility in there too.
when did you make your decision to resign and what are the elements that convinced you?
The administrative investigation has just ended [February 15]. I don’t even know what’s in the inspection report. It was necessary to wait for the end of the investigation and the final report. I didn’t think about leaving earlier. I suffered: when you take the head everything I took in early January, so unfairly, I swear you have to be strong, have a solid family. But I still had trouble and was very unhappy from 10 to the end of January.
You could have left earlier.
I had no reason to say, on January 10, “I’m going”. Timing was the right one. No one convinced me. I decided on my own to leave for a while, a good month. I no longer wanted, courage, will. There was an incredible blunder. I knew that I will not come back.
The threat of an investigation by the disciplinary committee brandished by the National Council for FFF Ethics was a factor?
I didn’t feel the knife, it’s funny. Or the knife is not sharp. It could have been of service to me if the disciplinary committee had been activated. When the investigation is opened and that a decision was made, I would perhaps have been two more months. What did these people do for football?!
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