Noel Le Graet - who is subject to an ongoing investigation - been asked to "resign" from the France Football Federation after his controversial comments about Zinedine Zidane
Following reports of sexual harassment and bullying, the French Football Federation (FFF), of which Le Graet was president, launched an investigation in October.
Furthermore, Le Graet got in trouble last week when he made rude remarks about Zidane, admitting that he would not have answered the legendary midfielder’s call if he had been contacted about the France job.
In a statement, the FFF said:
“Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the executive committee of the FFF meeting today in Paris, has chosen to withdraw from his duties as president of the Federation until the final communication of the audit carried out by the Ministry of Sports, and awaiting its analysis by the Comex (executive committee) of the FFF”.
“The Comex of the FFF has also decided to lay off Florence Hardouin, general manager of the FFF, as a precautionary measure”.
“As of today, Philippe Diallo, deputy vice-president of the FFF, will act as interim manager of these two functions.”
Le Graet did release an apology thereafter:
“I would like to apologise for these remarks, which absolutely do not reflect my views nor my consideration for the player he [Zidane] was and the coach he has become” he said.
“I admit that I made some clumsy remarks which created a misunderstanding.”
