The president of the French Football Federation (FFF) is to be investigated after allegations of “sexual and moral harassment” were made against him.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday it had opened an investigation for moral and sexual harassment against Noel Le Graet, 81.
“In response to a report from the IGESR (General Inspection of Education, Sport and Research) on 13 January 2023, an investigation was opened yesterday into charges of moral harassment and sexual harassment,” the prosecutor’s office told Reuters.
The investigation will be carried out by a special police unit dedicated to crimes against individuals.
Le Graet, who has previously denied allegations of sexual harassment during an audit commissioned by the sports ministry, last week “took a step back” from his duties.
French media, citing a statement sent to news agency AFP by Le Graet’s lawyers, reported he denied any wrongdoing.
It comes after Sonia Souid, a 37-year-old sports agent, accused Le Graet of improper conduct, saying in an interview with L’Equipe sports daily that he repeatedly tried to approach her from 2013-17.
Last September, the sports ministry ordered an audit of the federation after the FFF said it would file a defamation lawsuit against So Foot magazine, which reported that Le Graet allegedly harassed several female employees.
The FFF vice president, Philippe Diallo, will replace Le Graet until the audit delivers its findings.
The probe could reportedly conclude by the end of January.
Probe follows Le Graet’s ‘disrespect’ to Zidane
Le Graet was recently criticised over his comments about Zinedine Zidane, the 1998 French World Cup winner and former Real Madrid head coach.
He said he wouldn’t pick up the phone if Zidane called him about managing the France national team.
Le Graet faced backlash from World Cup finalist Kylian Mbappe, who tweeted: “Zidane is France, we don’t disrespect a legend like that.”
He apologised for his comments.
