Noël Le Graët given standing ovation as he leaves French FA

L’Équipe report this afternoon that Noël Le Graët, the former president of the French FA who resigned last week, gave a parting speech to the organisation’s employees today, at the end of which he was given a standing ovation.

Over 200 people were present in the auditorium, including Didier Deschamps, as well as the FFF’s executive committee, who interrupted their ongoing meeting – in which Corinne Diacre’s dismissal as women’s national team mamanger was confirmed – to attend.

Witnesses told L’Équipe that his speech was “very dignified and emotional“, and that he held back the tears, explaining that he had “spent the best years of my life” at the FFF. A long-time employee adds that Le Graët jokingly said he would invite some former colleagues for a drink at his offices – he now leads FIFA’s Paris headquarters – if interim president Philippe Diallo allowed it. 

In a more serious tone, he explained that he would legally contest and look to overturn the final conclusions of the government-mandated audit, which has notably accused him of multiple instances of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour. The fifteen-minute speech was met with a standing ovation, started by two employees.