Noël Le Graët emerges from the silence. Targeted by an investigation for accusations of moral and sexual harassment, the former president of the French Football Federation (FFF) spoke during an interview granted to The Team and at Monde this Sunday, November 3 after the latter was dismissed on October 17 due to the absence of a sufficiently serious offense. Evoking a “great relief”, Noël Le Graët nevertheless indicated that he retained a “certain anger” after the accusations against him.
In January 2023, a preliminary investigation into acts of moral and sexual harassment was opened after the filing of a complaint against him. Plunged into turmoil, the former president of the FFF was subsequently forced to leave his post after a report established by the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR) commissioned by the Ministry of Sports by Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.
Settling scores with the former minister
“I am used to working with women, both at the FFF and in my company, we can joke but I have never gone further. We are in a period where we have to be careful with everything we say but I don’t have the feeling of having slipped,” explained Le Graët, believing that he had “always behaved well”.
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Speaking of the affair as a “nightmare” and an “empty” file, the former leader took advantage of his speech to settle scores with former relatives, and in particular the former Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. “It all started from Qatar where things weren't too good with Madam Minister. I don’t know if she deserves for me to call her that,” he says, before mentioning “an investigation against him” by the former minister’s administration against him. “What has she done for Sport? I will not judge her on her time at National Education, she made me feel sorry for her,” he added.
The former minister will be tried for defamation on December 3 and 4 by the Court of Justice of the Republic.
