French soccer president steps back pending investigation
FILE - Head of French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet attends a press conference in Paris, Wednesday, March 2, 2016. The president of France's soccer federation apologized Monday Jan.9, 2023 after Kylian Mbappé, the French sports minister and Real Madrid all took him to task for brusque comments that he "couldn't care less" about Zinédine Zidane's future as a coach. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Christophe Ena]
PARIS (AP) — Noël Le Graët has agreed to step back from his duties as president of the French soccer federation following an emergency executive committee meeting into his behavior. The 81-year-old Le Graët has faced claims of sexual harassment and the soccer federation is the target of an investigation ordered by French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. The federation says Le Graët has agreed to step away from his role until the audit’s findings have been fully reviewed by the executive committee. That is expected to be by the end of January. He will be replaced in an interim role by federation vice president Philippe Diallo.
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The logo of the French soccer federation (FFF), is pictured at the federation headquarters, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Paris. The troubled 81-year-old soccer head of the FFF Noel Le Great has been suspended as the president of France Football Federation after saying he "couldn't care less" about Zinédine Zidane's future as a coach, and after a sports agent has accused him of improper conduct over several years, saying he only was interested in her sexually.(AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michel Euler
Philippe Diallo, vice-president of the French soccer federation (FFF), is pictured at the federation headquarters, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Paris. The troubled 81-year-old soccer head of the FFF Noel Le Great has previously faced claims of sexual harassment and the French federation is the target of an investigation ordered by Sports Minister. Le Graet has had a tumultuous week after saying he "couldn't care less" about Zinedine Zidane's future as a coach, and the latest accusation led to calls for his resignation from the head of the French Football Federation's ethics council. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michel Euler
Vincent Labrune, left, head of the French soccer league, and Jean-Michel Aulas, President of the Olympique Lyonnais soccer team, leave the French soccer federation (FFF), Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Paris. The troubled 81-year-old soccer head of the FFF Noel Le Great has previously faced claims of sexual harassment and the French federation is the target of an investigation ordered by Sports Minister. Le Graet has had a tumultuous week after saying he "couldn't care less" about Zinedine Zidane's future as a coach, and the latest accusation led to calls for his resignation from the head of the French Football Federation's ethics council. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michel Euler
Protestors display placard denouncing improper conduct over several years by the president of the French soccer federation Noel Le Graet, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 in Paris. The troubled 81-year-old soccer executive has previously faced claims of sexual harassment and the French federation is the target of an investigation ordered by Sports Minister. Le Graet has had a tumultuous week after saying he "couldn't care less" about Zinedine Zidane's future as a coach, and the latest accusation led to calls for his resignation from the head of the French Football Federation's ethics council. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michel Euler