President of French Football Federation asked to step down
By Pavel
Noel Le Graet, is no longer president of the French Football Federation. He will be replaced by vice-president of the body, Philippe Diallo, who will occupy the post on interim basis.
The outgoing president was suspended from his duties after an extraordinary meeting of the FFF executive committee on Wednesday, January 11.
“Noel Le Graet, in agreement with the FFF Executive Committee meeting in Paris, has opted to withdraw from his functions as president of the Federation until the final communication of the audit carried out by the Ministry of Sport, and pending its analysis by the FFF’s Comex,” read an official statement.
This happens after he came under criticism for making dismissive comments about Zinedine Zidane. The French all-time great had been linked to the coaching job currently held by Didier Deschamps.
Le Graet, in response to a question about Zidane’s link to the national team coaching job, had said he wouldn’t take a call from the 1998 world cup winner, if he expressed his interest in the job.
“I don’t give a damn, he can go wherever he wants” the 81-year-old said.
He ends his stint as president of the FFF after heading the organization since 2011. His mandate was due to run till 2024.
