In a statement via AFP, as reported in LÉquipe, FFF president Noël Le Graët has denied all accusations, in the wake of the Paris public prosecutor’s decision to open an investigation into him over alleged “bullying and sexual harassment”.
The president, through his lawyers, indicates that he was surprised to have heard about the investigation via press reports, and has hit out at what he deems to have been “numerous political interferences and pressures”.
The 81-year-old withdrew from his duties in the wake of an executive board meeting last week, called in the wake of the backlash regarding his dismissive comments on Zinédine Zidane and the former France midfielder’s future career plans.
He has also been the subejct of accusations of sexual harassment, notably from football agent Sonia Souid who detailed a number of inappropriate advances on his part. Back in September, an investigation by So Foot notably pointed to a number of instances of sexual harassment at the FFF, including the president’s alleged inappropriate texts sent to female colleagues. This contributed to the opening of a government audit into the organisation, the results of which are set to be released at the end of the month.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
