November 22 – The ongoing legal spat between former French FA president Noel le Graet and the country’s sports minister appears to be over.
Le Graet is reported to have withdrawn his defamation complaint against Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera. The hearing was due to have taken place in early December.
Oudea-Castera said Le Graet informed the Cour de Justice de la Republique – a special tribunal for government officials – that he is withdrawing his complaint.
“As with his resignation at the time, he is making a wise decision for himself and for the FFF,” she said in a statement on X.
The development comes just days after French prosecutors ceased their investigation into allegations of sexual and moral harassment against Le Graet through lack of sufficient evidence.
Le Graet, now 82, resigned from his post in February 2023 following a damning report commissioned by the sports ministry. He denied any wrongdoing.
He had run the FFF for 11 years but the government-commissioned audit concluded he was no longer fit to administer and represent the sport in France and highlighted what it termed “the inappropriate behaviour of Mr Le Graet towards women”.
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