A sports activities agent has leveled extreme accusations of improper habits in opposition to the president of the French Football Federation, claiming the latter had been participating in predatory and salacious habits towards her for years, solely motivated by his sexual wishes.
Noel Le Graet has had a tumultuous week in France after saying he “couldn’t care much less” about Zinedine Zidane’s future as a coach, and the most recent accusation led to requires his resignation Tuesday from the top of the French Football Federation’s ethics council.
The troubled 81-year-old soccer government has beforehand confronted claims of sexual harassment and the French federation is the goal of an investigation ordered by Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
The agent, 37-year-old Sonia Souid, mentioned in an interview with L’Equipe sports activities every day that Le Graet repeatedly tried to method her from 2013-17.
She mentioned that whereas she wished to develop a business relationship with Le Great to advertise girls’s soccer, he was extra excited by leaving messages on her voicemail late within the night to ask her to drink Champagne.
France’s sports activities minister ordered an investigation into the federation in September after the physique mentioned it could file a defamation lawsuit in opposition to So Foot journal, which reported that Le Graet allegedly harassed a number of feminine workers.
The French journal revealed a six-page investigation quoting nameless former and present workers and inappropriate textual content messages that Le Graet allegedly despatched to the ladies. So Foot additionally described an alleged poisonous tradition on the federation.
Souid mentioned she first met Le Great in 2013 and instructed L’Equipe that he texted her to ask her out or inform her he missed her. Souid mentioned he by no means went too far verbally however made clear she ought to have intercourse with him to maneuver her concepts ahead.
“He never looked at me like an agent but like a piece of candy,” Souid mentioned.
Souid mentioned Le Graet’s angle damage her and that she thought of ending her profession as an agent. Asked whether or not Le Graet helped her professionally sooner or later, Souid mentioned he helped her discover the telephone variety of coach Corinne Diacre and that he tried to assist her with business class airplane tickets for France participant Amandine Henry.
Patrick Anton, head of the FFF’s ethics council, issued a press release Tuesday urging Le Graet to depart his put up.
“We call on the president of the Federation to withdraw from his duties and therefore to resign,” the assertion mentioned. “We need strong and serene leadership, which unfortunately is no longer the case.”
In addition to his position on the French soccer federation, Le Graet has been a FIFA Council since being appointed by UEFA in May 2019. The place pays $250,000 yearly.
Le Graet is at the moment a candidate for an additional four-year time period on FIFA’s ruling committee. He is being challenged for the seat by Portuguese soccer federation president Fernando Gomes. The election is for April 5, when UEFA member nations meet in Lisbon.
Le Graet’s candidacy should go a FIFA-run eligibility and integrity examine. He can stand for election regardless of UEFA imposing an age restrict of 70 for candidates to its government committee.
