PARIS: Scandal-hit president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noel Le Graet, has been forced to stepdown following a series of controversies, the body said on Wednesday.
The decision was made after an emergency meeting of the FFF in Paris.
The body said that Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the federation, has chosen to step down from his role as president until the completion of the audit conducted by the sports ministry.
Le Graet’s controversial remarks about Zidane
Le Graet, who has been president of the FFF since 2011 and whose mandate was becuase of run until the 2024, had faced calls to resign after what he admitted were “clumsy remarks” about World Cup winner and an all-time France great Zinedine Zidane’s potential interest in coaching the French national team.
The 81-year-old had said in an interview with radio station RMC on Sunday that he “wouldn’t even have taken his call” when asked whether Zidane had rung him to express interest in taking over as coach from Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps, who led France to World Cup victory in 2018 and oversaw their run to last month’s final in Qatar which Argentina won on penalties, last weekend signed a new contract to stay as France coach until 2026.
Deschamps on Wednesday said that Le Graet’s comments about Zidane were “inappropriate”.
The controversial marks about Zidane as well as a series of accusations of mistreatment by employees at the federation, led to the French government launching an audit of the FFF and Le Graet being summoned to attend a hearing. –AFP/APP
