Presidential Catastrophic Fate FFF After Fertilizing Zinedine Zidane's Dream
JAKARTA - The President of the French Football Federation (FFF) Noel Le Graet must receive the consequences of his recent controversy.
He had a heavy heart to resign from his position shortly after his controversial comments regarding Zinedine Zidane.
The decision was taken by Le Graet following an FFF emergency meeting in Paris.
"Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the FFF executive committee that gathered today in Paris, has chosen to step down from his post as president until the end of the audit conducted by the sports ministry," the FFF said in a statement quoted by Antara from AFP, Thursday, January 11 in the morning WIB.
Le Graet, whose term of office expires in 2024, is under pressure to resign after she has been charged with sexual harassment against several FFF female employees, whom she denies.
The 81-year-old man also received criticism from French players and figures for his comments on French legend and icon Zinedine Zidane.
Le Graet said he would not pick up the phone to interview Zidane about the opportunity to become coach of the French national team after extending Didier Deschamps' contract.
A number of parties at the FFF were also reportedly furious, as Le Graet was reported by L'Equipe not having discussions before extending Deschamps' contract until 2026 which then dashed Zidane's hopes of coaching Les Bleus.
Le Graet is former mayor Guingamp and former president of football club Guingamp who under his guidance won the 2009 French Cup. He took office as FFF President in 2011.
The FFF added that general director Florence Hardouin was 'for a while suspended', with Diallo also taking over her role for a while.