KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Noel Le Graët, for 11 years French football federation supremo and a senior member of the councils of FIFA and UEFA, has been removed from his post – temporarily at least.

Le Graet, 80, faces accusations of sexual harassment and has been forced to apologise for disrespectful comments about Zinedine Zidane in connection with the contract extension award to national coach Didier Deschamps.

Nonsensically, he is being proposed by UEFA to continue on the FIFA Council even though he is 10 years beyond the age limit which the European federation sets for its own delegates.

Le Graët accepted his suspension which runs until the completion of an inquiry into his methods by the Ministry of Sports.

Simultaneously FFF general manager Florence Hardouin was also suspended and was later taken ill and admitted to hospital.

Philippe Diallo, until now vice-president, will take over the acting presidency.

Sources within the FFF suggested that the executive committee, hitherto loyal to Le Graet, had been angered that it had not been consulted over the Deschamps renewal before Le Graet announced it to the general assembly last Saturday.

The football agent Sonia Souid has already accused Le Graet of sexual harassment and further allegations from “several women” have been reported by news outlets.

Sports Minister Amelie Oudéa-Castéra, in a statement to AFP, welcomed the removal of Le Graet as ”a necessary step in view of the already known elements of his attitudes.”

Earlier in the week Oudéa-Castéra had called on the executive committee to “take responsibility.”

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