2023-11-07 20:48:39
His audition was one of those that was most anticipated. Notably because, among the various scandals which have shaken up sports federations in recent years, those surrounding the departure of Noël Le Graët from the French football federation (FFF) were among the triggers for this parliamentary commission of inquiry. on the failures of sports federations.
After Didier Deschamps on November 2, Noël Le Graët therefore appeared before the deputies of this commission of inquiry. There was first the question of discrimination in football and within the FFF, and in particular homophobia, about which the former president had made controversial comments in the past. “I regret having used those words about homophobia,” he said. I was lucky enough to have my daughter give me some soap when I got home. »
On homophobia, “I swear to you that I have changed”
“There is a lack of knowledge,” he continues. I’m not sure that all the words we hear in the stadiums are homophobic, they don’t think about what they say. But I went to visit several centers of associations which fight against homophobia afterwards. With that, I swear to you that I have changed. Homophobia is kids abandoned on the street, whose parents threw them out because they weren’t normal. You come out of there very different. And there indeed, I said to myself: but my poor Noël, how could you declare such a thing? It would have been better to say nothing. »
It was also a question of his relationship with women, of sexism in the federation. When asked for his definition of “inappropriate behavior” or “sexual harassment,” he replied, disillusioned: “Is telling someone she had a pretty dress a big deal? Today yes. I’m 82 years old and you have to be more careful than before about what you say. It’s good that things are changing.” When the president of the commission asks her if it is appropriate to ask an employee to wear a skirt when traveling? “I don’t want to answer that question,” he asserts. I see you coming…”
“What could we do? »
On Brigitte Henriques, who declared before this same commission that Noël Le Graët made “gritty jokes”: “Brigitte Henriques was one of the women I preferred in the FFF. I have deep respect for her. I have nothing against Philippe Diallo but she would have replaced me if she had stayed at the FFF. I would be surprised if she criticized me. »
On racism in football, he begins his response with: “I have always been close to Africa…”
In the end, like many of the leaders interviewed by this commission, tongues were not loosened much. Very often, when faced with certain contradictions or the limits of the system in place, Le Graët passes the ball back, talking about teams and people better qualified than him to respond. But also on the impossibility for him to take heavy sanctions against certain accused of assault or harassment, in particular in the case of Angélique Roujas. With a recurring rhetoric: “What could we do? »
“There is a slightly annoying side to hearing a statement which consists of saying: I have collaborators, I have presidents of commissions who do their work, I am not aware of this,” the vice-president questioned. -president of the commission Stéphane Buchou (Renaissance). This comes up regularly in the hearings that we have conducted. It’s difficult to hear. »
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