sexual harassment Charges have been dropped against the former president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Noël Le Graët, his lawyer told AFP on Sunday.

The Graët resigned as head of the FFF in February 2023, after 11 years in office following a report commissioned by the Ministry of Sports that criticized his “inappropriate public positions” and his “inappropriate behavior (…) towards women“.

At that time, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into moral and sexual harassment that has since been archived.

A source said the process was closed on October 17 because the crimes were not serious enough.

Le Graët’s lawyer, Thierry Marembert, confirmed the information to AFP.

“I applaud this decision, which recognizes the probity of my client. The in-depth criminal investigation was able to prove that none of the accusations that had been hastily made against him were founded,” said Marembert.

Meanwhile, Le Graët, 82, spoke to French newspaper Le Monde.

“It’s a big relief. There’s still a little bit of anger deep inside me,” the former president said. “I’m not in the forgiveness phase, but I’m happy to have come out of this with my head held high and to have regained a little bit of my honor.”

Meanwhile, a defamation process initiated by Le Graët against the then Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéracontinues to accuse her of “lying” about the report on Le Graët, which will be heard on December 3 and 4.

(AFP)