A sports activities agent has accused the president of the French soccer federation of improper conduct over a number of years, saying he solely was excited by her sexually.
Noel Le Graet has had a tumultuous week in France after saying he “couldn’t care less” about Zinédine Zidane’s future as a coach. The 81-year-old soccer government has beforehand confronted claims of sexual harassment and the French federation is the goal of an investigation ordered by Sports activities Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
The agent, 37-year-old Sonia Souid, mentioned in an interview with L’Equipe sports activities every day that Le Graet repeatedly tried to method her from 2013-17.
She mentioned that whereas she needed to develop a enterprise relationship with Le Graet to advertise ladies’s soccer, he was extra excited by leaving messages on her voicemail late within the night to ask her to drink champagne.
France’s sports activities minister ordered an investigation into the federation in September after the physique mentioned it will file a defamation lawsuit in opposition to So Foot journal, which reported that Le Graet allegedly harassed a number of feminine workers.
The French journal printed a six-page investigation quoting nameless former and present workers, and inappropriate textual content messages that Le Graet allegedly despatched to the ladies. So Foot additionally described an alleged poisonous tradition on the federation.
Souid, who mentioned she first met Le Graet in 2013, additionally informed L’Equipe that he texted her to ask her out or inform her he missed her. Souid mentioned he by no means went too far verbally however made clear she ought to have intercourse with him to maneuver her concepts ahead.
“He never looked at me like an agent but like a piece of candy,” Souid mentioned.
Souid mentioned she was damage by Le Graet’s angle and that she thought of ending her profession as an agent. Requested whether or not Le Graet helped her professionally in some unspecified time in the future, Souid mentioned he helped her discover the telephone variety of coach Corinne Diacre and that he tried to assist her with enterprise class airplane tickets for France participant Amandine Henry.
Along with his function on the French soccer federation, Le Graet additionally has been a member of the FIFA Council since being appointed by UEFA in Could 2019. The place pays $250,000 yearly.
Le Graet is presently a candidate for an additional four-year time period on FIFA’s ruling committee. He’s being challenged for the seat by Portuguese soccer federation president Fernando Gomes. The election is about for April 5, when UEFA member nations meet in Lisbon.
Le Graet’s candidacy should move a FIFA-run eligibility and integrity examine. He can stand for election regardless of UEFA imposing an age restrict of 70 for candidates to its personal government committee.
