February 15 – Gianni Infantino will plead the case of disgraced French FA president Noel Le Graet when he meets today with French president Emmanuel Macron, according to unconfirmed French media reports.
The veteran French football boss is a member of FIFA’s all-powerful Council but agreed recently to step down following a series of high-profile controversies, the latest being controversial remarks he made about national icon Zinedine Zidane’s potential interest in taking over the national team.
In an interview with French radio, Le Graet said he “wouldn’t even have taken his call” if Zidane had been in touch about replacing Didier Deschamps, adding: “I don’t give a damn, he can go wherever he wants.”
His conduct has also come under the spotlight with a female football agent making further accusations of unwanted sexual advances in an interview with sports daily L’Equipe.
French sports minister Amelie Oudéa-Castéra has accused Le Graet of “damaging the image of our country”, remarks that heap embarrassment on FIFA where Le Graet is currently a candidate for another four-year term on its Council, with an election due on April 5 at the UEFA Congress in Lisbon.
Reports in France claim Infantino, while meeting Macron to discuss strengthening ties between FIFA and the French government, will caution against any interference in the affairs of the national FA in terms of Le Graet’s future.
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