Noël Le Graët overwhelmed by the audit of the Ministry of Sports

FRANCK FIFE / AFP

The provisional report of the audit mission on the FFF considers that Noël Le Graët “no longer has the legitimacy necessary to administer” French football.

SPORT – Bad weather at the FFF. The President of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet “no longer has the necessary legitimacy to administer” French football taking into account in particular “of his behavior towards women”pins this Monday, January 30 the provisional report of the audit mission on the French Football Federation.

This interim report from the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), commissioned by the Ministry of Sports last fall, also notes that the authority’s policy on gender-based violence and sex is “neither effective nor efficient”. FFF leaders have until February 13 to read and respond to these conclusions.

“The Drift of a Solitary Power”

“The mission considers that, given his behavior towards women, his public statements and the failures of the governance of the FFF, Mr. Le Graët no longer has the necessary legitimacy to administer and represent French football”, can we read. Moreover, “thehe president multiplies what some call ‘slippages’, but which above all illustrate the drift of a solitary power without any internal regulation tool”.

Withdrawn since January 11and targeted by an investigation for moral and sexual harassment, Noël Le Graët is not spared by this preliminary report. His attitude towards women “can be qualified at least as sexist”, say the inspectors. The mission also collected testimonies relating to the actions of the Breton leader “likely to receive a criminal qualification”.

The inspectors, who on January 13 made a report to the public prosecutor of Paris, indicated that they would transmit additional information to justice. It is on the basis of this report that the Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigationmid-January.

” The couple president – general manager has reached its limits »

But this report, which brings together no less than 56 hearings, for 103 people questioned, does not only target the boss of 3F, but also General Manager Florence Hardouinthe executive committee of the FFF and the entire organization of the French body.

Thus, three copies of this audit were submitted on Monday: one for Noël Le Graët, with all the elements targeting him, a second for Florence Hardouin and a last for Philippe Diallo, current interim president since the withdrawal. by Le Graet. A final copy that concerns only the Federation and its leaders, without the elements “ the most personal directly linked to the president and his general manager » indicates in particular The Teamwhich was able to consult a copy of this latest report, in the same way as AFP.

Laid off as a precautionary measure on January 11, the general manager of the FFF, Florence Hardouin, is clearly targeted by the IGESR inspectors for her management who, they write, “can be described as brutal”but no “harassing”.

His relations with Le Graët are, however, described as “toxic” : “The Chairman-CEO duo has reached its limits”even believe the auditors of the IGESR, evoking “clan logic” of management and a “very self-centered vision of power”.

An ineffective prevention policy

The mission, which proposes 18 recommendations to the FFF, also pinpoints the authority’s policy in terms of prevention and the fight against sexist and sexual violencewho “is not a priority deployed rationally by the FFF in the territories”according to her.

“The policy to combat gender-based and sexual violence in the federal network is neither effective nor efficient” also notes the report, considering that“At the headquarters of the FFF, gender-based and sexual violence is never clearly designated”. Incidentally, the rapporteurs note that “ the sexist and violent atmosphere, which reigned within the CODIR (steering committee) until 2020, is largely confirmed by all the hearings”. Even if they note that the departure of several people, between the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, has “ necessarily leads to pacifying the atmosphere”.

Severely shaken for five months by journalistic investigations, testimonials from women accusing him of sexist and inappropriate behavior, or by his own sweeping statements about Zinedine ZidaneNoël Le Graët is going through the most delicate period of his mandate, which began in 2011. The FFF “will not communicate its own conclusions and decisions after the delivery of the final audit commissioned by the Ministry of Sports”reacted the body in a press release.

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