France sports minister says ex-football federation chief withdrawing defamation complaint

PARIS :Former French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet has withdrawn his defamation complaint against France’s Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera.
Le Graet resigned from his post in February 2023 following allegations of sexual and moral harassment but denied any wrongdoing. French prosecutors dropped an investigation into the allegations against the 82-year-old earlier this month.
Oudea-Castera, who spearheaded the organisation of the Paris Summer Olympics, said Le Graet informed the Cour de Justice de la Republique – a special tribunal for government officials – that he was withdrawing his defamation complaint.
“As with his resignation at the time, he is making a wise decision for himself and for the FFF,” the minister said in a statement on X on Thursday.
Le Graet confirmed he did not intend to pursue the matter.
“For me, the case is closed. The investigation was dropped,” he told Reuters. “I wish her a lot of luck for the future. She ruined two years of my life but it doesn’t matter.”