Harassment, Qatar, Mbappé, Deschamps … Right in his boots, the president of the French Federation takes stock in an interview with Parisian.
Inappropriate behavior, sexist climate, harassment… Accusations rain down on the French Football Federation (FFF) and its president, Noël Le Graët. “These are not accusations, but rumors being circulated on the basis of anonymous testimonies. I totally and firmly deny it. I have never harassed anyone. I haven’t sent any text messages either.“, hammers the Breton leader in a long interview with the Parisian . “NLG”, which reaffirms its intention to remain in place until the end of its mandate, in 2024, promises never to have had “the slightest inappropriate gesture of all (his) life towards a womanand evokes a cabal. “I have been afflicted with all evils. I caught a wave in the face. With the Twitter court, some media prosecutors, it becomes an eyesore. Enough is enough. It hurts me terribly today… like my family, my friends, employees of my group and the FFF“, he assures, adding that there is “no hidden cases of sexual assault or harassment at the FFF” and “all cases of alleged abuse have been processedunder his presidency.
«The FFF is not the Middle Ages or the Wild West… It’s incredible to tell stories at this point“, he gets carried away again, describing “a modern company, which applies the law, which has ethics, commitments and toolsand emphasizing that hisfour granddaughters aged between 21 and 30 are aware of this subject, they are sacred feminists“. The Ministry of Sports has however commissioned an audit mission. Mr. Le Graët is not very worried about his conclusions. “I’m glad it’s happeninghe smiles.
I do not close my eyes and do not endorse the social reality or human rights that must progress in Qatar.
Noel Le Graet
This is obviously not the only burning issue for Noël Le Graêt, under the fire of criticism on Qatar, he who seemed to minimize the question of human rights and the living conditions of migrant workers in the emirate on France 2. “It’s not insoluble, it’s paint strokes“, he said, provoking general indignation and in particular the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. The 80-year-old entrepreneur recognizes a “real clumsiness“but does not want”pour in qatar bashing» or «do the demago». «I am very far from defending everything that is done there, but it is too easy to howl about this country today. It had to be done in 2010 when it was designated. Now it’s too late“, he underlines, less than a month before the start of the competition, on November 20. “If you list the 211 countries affiliated to FIFA, there are many among them where the notion of law is very far from ours or that in force in Europe. I do not endorse it, I can deplore it, but I only draw up this observation. Thanks to the World Cup, Qatar will progress a little faster“, he adds, assuring that he “does not turn a blind eye and does not endorse the social reality or human rights that must progress in Qatar. (…) The World Cup made it possible to advance a certain number of things.»
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To see if Paul Pogba will be back in time to participate in this World Cup. And if the player of Juventus is, if necessary, in the best dispositions, he who has many extra-sporting worries… Mr. Le Graët has full confidence in him, who is “not a whiner“. In addition, the president of the FFF, questioned about the golden contract of Kylian Mbappé at PSG, assures that the latter “did not rob its leaders to obtain this sum. He’s going to be a good customer for the taxman!“. Last but not least, no news concerning the future of Didier Deschamps as coach. “Nothing has changed. We will see each other after the World Cup and we will talk. (…) If he fulfills his mission and wishes to continue after the World Cup, he will be a priority“, he slips. With Zinédine Zidane in luxury plan B?
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