PARIS — Noël Le Graët not has legitimacy to stay as French soccer federation president as a result of his administration model and habits towards girls are “incompatible with the train of his features,” a authorities audit launched Wednesday discovered.

The 81-year-old Le Graët is presently beneath judicial investigation for alleged sexual and “ethical” harassment as a part of a probe being carried out by a particular police unit devoted to crimes in opposition to people.

An audit by the Common Inspectorate of Training, Sport and Analysis concluded that Le Graët’s habits towards girls was inappropriate.

“The mission considers that Mr. Le Graët not has the required legitimacy to handle and characterize French soccer,” the audit report mentioned. “It believes that the drifting habits of Mr. Le Graët is now detrimental to the picture of the (federation) and invitations the federal authorities to look at this case in utility of the statutory provisions.”

Le Graët was additionally criticized for the best way he runs the federation, with the report blaming him for his “very centralized train of energy.”

Le Graët, who was individually criticized final month for perceived disrespect towards France soccer nice Zinédine Zidane, had agreed to step away from his position till the audit’s findings have been totally reviewed by the federation’s govt committee.

Federation vice chairman Philippe Diallo has stepped in to deal with Le Graët’s duties on an interim foundation. It stays unclear if Le Graët will now conform to step down. The federation didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the audit’s findings.

French sports activities minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra ordered the audit into the federation in September after the federation mentioned it might file a defamation lawsuit in opposition to So Foot journal, which reported that Le Graët allegedly harassed a number of feminine staff.

The French journal revealed a six-page investigation quoting nameless former and present staff, and revealed inappropriate textual content messages that Le Graët allegedly despatched to the ladies.

“The mission famous not solely feedback and textual content messages from Mr. Le Graët, a few of which have been ambiguous and others of a clearly sexual nature, but in addition factors to the the late hour of the messages, their repetitive nature and the character of the recipients — girls beneath his authority and/or in a relationship of dependence,” the audit report mentioned.

Le Graët was re-elected to a four-year time period final March.

The hearings performed by the mission highlighted that Le Graët’s inappropriate remarks might have been “accentuated by the extreme consumption of alcohol.”

Sports activities agent Sonia Souid, who’s amongst those that have accused Le Graët, mentioned in an interview with L’Equipe sports activities each day that Le Graët repeatedly tried to method her from 2013-17.

Souid mentioned Le Graët texted her to ask her out or inform her he missed her. Souid mentioned Le Graët by no means went too far verbally however made clear she ought to have intercourse with him to maneuver her concepts ahead.

“He by no means checked out me like an agent however like a bit of sweet,” Souid mentioned.

Souid mentioned she was damage by Le Graët’s angle and that she thought of ending her profession as an agent.

The audit report, primarily based on greater than 100 interviews and evaluation of varied paperwork, highlighted different dysfunctions on the federation and famous that its coverage in opposition to gender-based and sexual violence is “neither efficient or environment friendly.”

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