FFF President to resign after Zidane comments and sexual assault allegations

Noel Le Graet, president of the France Football Federation, is reportedly set to resign after a government-ordered audit found numerous instances of inappropriate behaviour and suggested criminal prosecution of the 81-year-old. 

Le Graet’s problems started when he made unsavoury comments about France legend Zinedine Zidane early in the year. In January, Le Graet said he would not even pick up Zidane’s call if the ex-Real Madrid manager called him. 

After the comments about Zidane and the backlash it received, an investigation was opened into Le Graet’s behaviour in his time as FFF president, and he was subsequently accused of bullying and sexual harassment by some of his female colleagues in the federation. 

Le Graet has been president of FFF since 2011, but recently had to take a step back from his management duties while the accusations against him were being investigated. 

Now that the investigation is over and recommendations have been made, Le Graet is reported to be ready to resign at the next FFF meeting scheduled for Tuesday this week. 

Le Graet maintains his innocence despite the slew of evidence and testimony that has been uncovered by the case, including the testimony of his lewd behaviour towards female employees of the FFF, especially while inebriated.

He claims that his decision to resign is born out of a desire to keep his legacy at the FFF intact in the face of the numerous allegations against him. 

It is expected that Le Graet’s resignation will spark mass resignations in the FFF set-up, as one of his trusted associates, Florence Hardoui, has already been earmarked for the ax.