A sports agent has accused the president of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet, of treating her inappropriately for several years, saying he was only interested in her sexually.
The 81-year-old football executive has previously faced claims of sexual harassment, while the French federation is the target of an investigation ordered by Sports Minister Amelie Ouedt-Castera.
The agent, Sonia Suid, said in an interview with L’Equipe sports daily that Le Grete repeatedly tried to contact her from 2013-17.
The 37-year-old said she wanted to develop a business relationship with Le Grand to promote women’s football, but was more interested in sending him late-evening voicemail messages inviting her to drink champagne.
France’s sports minister ordered an investigation into the federation in September after the body said it would file a defamation case against So Foot magazine, which reported that Le Grait had allegedly abused several female staff.
The French magazine published a six-page investigation, citing unnamed former and current employees, and inappropriate text messages Le Great allegedly sent to women. So Foote also described the allegedly toxic culture at the Federation.
Amid the accusations, the federation called an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
Suid, who said she first met Le Grete in 2013, also told L’Equipe that she texted him to ask him out or remind him. Sueed said he never went too far verbally but made it clear that he had to have sex with her to get his point across.
“He didn’t see me as an agent but as a piece of candy,” Sued said.
Suid said she was upset by Le Graet’s behavior and considered ending her career as an agent. Asked if Le Graet helped him professionally at any point, Souid said he helped him find coach Corinne Diacre’s phone number and that he tried to help him with business class plane tickets for France player Amandine Henry.
In addition to his role at the French Football Federation, Le Graet has also been a member of the FIFA Council since being appointed by UEFA in May 2019. The position pays $250,000 annually.
Le Great is a candidate for another four-year term on FIFA’s governing committee. He is being challenged for the seat by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation, Fernando Gomes. The election will be held on April 5 at the UEFA member states meeting in Lisbon.
Le Graet’s candidacy must pass a competency and integrity check conducted by FIFA. Although UEFA has set an age limit of 70 for candidates to its executive committee, he can stand for election.
Le Great caused an uproar in France for a week when he “French legend Zinedine Zidane couldn’t care less about his future As a trainer.
