The president of the French soccer federation resigns after an audit found that he no longer has the legitimacy to lead

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The president of the French soccer federation, Noël Le Graët, resigned on Tuesday after a government audit found that he no longer had the legitimacy to lead because of his behavior towards women and his management style.

Le Graët, 81, is under judicial investigation for alleged sexual and moral harassment. He had already retired from his duties until the federation’s executive committee reviewed the audit findings.

He submitted his resignation to an executive committee meeting on Tuesday, according to a federation statement.

The federation’s vice president, Philippe Diallo, will take over Le Graët’s functions on an interim basis until June 2023, according to the statement.

Amid mounting criticism of Le Graët last year, French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra ordered the federation’s audit in September.

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The audit report, based on more than 100 interviews and analysis of various documents, concluded last month that Le Graët’s behavior towards women was inappropriate and highlighted other dysfunctions in the federation. She also pointed out that her policy against sexual and gender violence “is neither effective nor efficient.”

The federation praised Le Graët’s “remarkable sporting and economic results” at the helm of the soccer body since 2011. It reiterated its “strong commitment against sexual and gender-based violence” and sought to distance itself from the audit.

The president of the French soccer federation, Noël Le Graët, attends a training session in Doha, Qatar, on November 19, 2022. Le Graët resigned from the French soccer federation on February 28, 2023, after after a government audit found that he no longer had the legitimacy to lead. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, file)

Le Graët has had a strong relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and it was unclear on Tuesday what the status of their two positions at world soccer body were.

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Infantino appointed Le Graët in January 2022 as his personal delegate at the FIFA satellite office in Paris, which includes liaison with member associations in Europe and Africa.

“The French Football Federation is doing an extraordinary job,” Infantino said last year when announcing the appointment, “and I often have the opportunity to speak with Noël Le Graët to better understand how the example set here in France can support the projects of development of football on a global basis”.

FIFA did not immediately respond to requests on Tuesday for comment on the matter.

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Le Graët is also a candidate to retain his $250,000-a-year seat on FIFA’s governing council, elected by UEFA’s member associations.

Despite the controversy surrounding the French soccer body, Le Graët has not publicly withdrawn his candidacy to stand for the April 5 vote at the UEFA Congress in Lisbon, Portugal. His scheduled opponent is Fernando Gomes, Portugal’s UEFA vice president.

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