Noël Le Graët settles his accounts after his acquittal

Not many people saw it coming, except maybe him. Targeted by an investigation for “ moral harassment » et « sexual harassment » since January 2023, response to the survey So Foot based on testimonies from employees of the French Football Federation, then from Radio France a little later, Noël Le Graët saw the Paris prosecutor's office drop all charges against him.

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As revealed The World et The Team this Sunday, this case was closed without further action on October 17, no offense appearing sufficiently serious at the end of the investigation. If he had been appointed head of the Paris office of FIFA by Gianni Infantino after his departure from the FFF, in January 2023, NLG had remained relatively discreet on what was then called “The Le Graët Affair“. This Sunday, it was with a vengeful spirit that he gave an interview to the newspaper The Teamduring which he settled a few scores, without making any detours, and without wearing gloves.

Amélie Oudéa-Castéra tried in December for defamation

«I'm used to working with women, both at the FFF and in my company, we can joke but I've never gone furtherhe recalled, echoing the investigation of So Foot. We're in a period where we have to be careful about everything we say, but I don't feel like I've slipped up. In any case, I have never sent any SMS or messages of a sexual nature. Justice has passed and cleared my honor.» At the time, even the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, had stood up against the former president of the FFF with the order of an audit on the management of the body. Le Graët subsequently took her to court for defamation, which led to the opening of an investigation and therefore her trial, scheduled for December 3 and 4.

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«It all started in Qatar where things weren't great with Madam Minister, I don't know if she deserves me to call her thatexplained NLG. With Florence Hardouin (then general director), they met, I was not always very friendly with Oudéa-Castéra, who did not behave like a minister, she was too comfortable. I told him bluntly. Why did she want me so much? I don't know… What did she do for Sport? I won't judge her on her time at National Education, she made me feel a little sorry. I am human.»

Philippe Diallo also takes his grade

Replaced by Philippe Diallo as president of the FFF, who should also be elected during the next federal elections in December, Noël Le Graët does not necessarily remain convinced by his profile. “Whether he makes a good successor? I don't know, I don't have an opinion. He should play the Lotto. (Smile) He is fired from the UCPF union, ex-Foot Unis, I have a free place, I tell myself he knows football and I appoint him treasurer, then with the departure of Brigitte Henriques from the CNOSF, I promote him to vice -president. I would have been better off naming another woman. I don’t know if Florence Hardouin warned him of what she was going to do against me, I have my doubts.” The former boss of the FFF has also given his preference for the next elections: the former general director of the Amateur Football League, Pierre Samsonoff, a “better candidate than Diallo” in his words, and “not a wacky».