Florence Hardouin to take French FA to court over dismissal as General Manager

Following her sacking as General Manager, Florence Hardouin is set to take the French FA to labour court over the terms of her dismissal, according to a report from Le Monde this afternoon.

Hardouin is looking to have her sacking recognised as invalid, as well as claiming compensation. She had been suspended at the start of January, before the FFF decided against dismissing her for gross conduct and instead justified pushing her out on the grounds of the findings of the government-mandated audit into the organisation.

The final conclusions of the report notably point the finger at former president Noël Le Graët, and accuses him of multiple instances of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour. The FFF felt that her strained relationship with Noël Le Graët and the failures in management that arose from this justified her dismissal, as well as questions over her legitimacy on the part of several directors. Although an internal report from 2020 is said to have pointed the finger at her allegedly cut-throat management style, the final report of the government’s audit – which came last month – considered that her approach did not constitute “bullying“.

Her spokesperson had previously indicated to Le Monde that her suspension came only two days after she had told several people she had been “sexually harassed and bullied” by the ex-French FA chief. Le Monde add that Hardouin will soon be questioned by police investigators after potential evidence of sexual harassment and bullying on the part of Le Graët was passed on by auditors.

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin