Noel Le Graet, whose comments about Zinedine Zidane drew criticism, has been sacked
The Executive Committee of the French Football Federation (FFF) has sacked FFF president Noel Le Graet, who made harsh remarks about the potential of legendary country name Zinedine Zidane to coach the national team, despite apologizing for his words.
According to the France Info news, Le Graet will not be able to continue his duty until the review by the French Ministry of Sports is complete.
Le Graet’s deputy, Philippe Diallo, has been appointed interim director of the FFF. Le Graet, who was appointed head of the French Football Federation in 2011, was due to expire in 2024.
According to French press reports, many women accused Le Graet of sexually harassing them. The Ministry of Sports opened an investigation against Le Graet after her accusations.
HIS WORDS REACTED BY ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Noel Le Graet, on the RMC Sport channel in France, about Zinedine Zidane’s potential to coach the national team; “Zidane did not try to contact me. He wouldn’t answer the phone even if he called. We’ve never met him.”
The French Ministry of Sports, Spain’s Real Madrid, French star Kylian Mbappé and many footballers criticized Le Graet for his statements about Zidane.
French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera also assessed Le Graet’s statements as “a shameful lack of respect for a football and sports legend that hurts us all.”
Mbappé, who made some statements on his social media account, also criticized Le Graet’s words about Zidane, using the phrase “Zidane is France, you can’t disrespect the legend like that.”
Le Graet had to apologize to Zinedine Zidane for his words about the criticism.
ZINEDINE ZIDANE IS SHOWN AMONG THE FAVORITE CANDIDATES
The FFF announced on Saturday that it had extended the contract of coach Didier Deschamps, who played for the national team in the second consecutive World Cup final in Qatar. Zidane was previously among the favorite candidates to replace Deschamps.
Zinedine Zidane left his job as manager of Real Madrid, one of the teams in the Spanish Primera Liga (La Liga), in 2021 and did not coach any other team after that. (AA)