Former FFF president Noël Le Graët did not take long before finding a new job in football following his resignation from the French FA presidency this Tuesday, with the former Guingamp president now set to continue to head FIFA’s Paris offices.
The 81-year-old’s decision to resign came amid a rapid decline in support in the wake of the final conclusions of the government-mandated audit into the FFF, which have notably accused him of multiple instances of sexual harassment. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had commissioned said audit last autumn amid an investigation from magazine So Foot on Le Graët’s behaviour and the management of the FFF. The auditors’ findings have been passed on to the authorities this month and prosecutors have opened an investigation over “bullying and sexual harassment”, Le Graët denying the accusations. In conclusion, the audit indicated that the former EA Guingamp president “no longer has the necessary legitimacy to manage and represent French football.”
However, Le Graët has no intention of retiring. The 81-year-old has been appointed by FIFA as head of their new Paris offices, French FA Executive Committee member Eric Borghini has told RMC Sport. Borghini said that this morning’s board meeting went well, with logic and reason prevailing. He added that the resigning Le Graët was emotional. “We thanked the president for his exceptional record and for being the great executive he was“, Borghini said. “The president has been named by Gianni Infantino. He will head their Paris offices.” The French FA board member added that Le Graët was chosen thanks to his skills, his expertise and his experience. L’Équipe have indicated that the former president was in fact named in that position by Infantino more than a year ago.
GFFN | Bastien Cheval
