“I don’t blame myself”: Noël Le Graët defends himself towards accusations of sexual harassment

Noël Le Graët, former president of the French Soccer Federation (FFF) who resigned from his submit in February, denounced Tuesday earlier than the Nationwide Meeting committee devoted to “operational failures inside sports activities federations” having suffered “an undeserved media lynching”. He left his submit after press revelations and a report from the Common Inspectorate of Training, Sport and Analysis (IGESR), in keeping with which he “not has the mandatory legitimacy to manage and symbolize soccer French”, considering particularly his “inappropriate conduct (…) in the direction of ladies”.

“Right this moment, instances have modified”

“I developed ladies’s soccer, I’m used to working with ladies and albeit, I don’t blame myself,” he continued. Telling a girl “that she has a reasonably costume, is that severe?” he requested, earlier than including: “Right this moment, sure, instances have modified, that doesn’t matter. stated extra, we have to be extra cautious and that’s good.” Is that this sexual harassment? “For me no, for you possibly,” he replied.

“I didn’t do something fallacious, however I couldn’t stand the articles anymore, I’ve a household, 9 grandchildren, it’s not nice to see untruths daily within the native or nationwide newspaper” , declared Noël Le Graët. As a reminder, the latter has additionally been the goal of a authorized investigation for ethical and sexual harassment since mid-January.

The previous mayor of Guingamp additionally regretted his feedback on homophobia in soccer. “I remorse having used these phrases, (…) I took a bar of cleaning soap from my daughter after I got here dwelling, I then visited a middle towards homophobia, there are children whose mother and father have thrown them out , I discovered myself unhappy and awkward for having stated that,” stated Noël Le Graët.

Then boss of “3F”, he declared in 2019 that he “wouldn’t cease matches” for homophobic chants or shouts, whereas he would achieve this for “racist shouts”, sparking an outcry till in authorities.

“I didn’t know earlier than, I didn’t understand”, “I swear to you that I’ve modified”, he assured the members of the fee. “I’m positive these idiots should not homophobic, they’re silly,” he stated of the affected supporters.