The current president of the French Football Federation, Noël Le Graët, aged 79, formalized his candidacy for a fourth term on Thursday, in a letter to football families (clubs, leagues and districts, unions, High Authority, etc. .), which AFP was able to consult.
"After having widely consulted the players in French football in recent weeks and the members of the Executive Committee of the FFF this morning, I decided to request the renewal of your confidence, by presenting my candidacy for the presidency of our Federation", writes the leader, at the head of the body since 2011 and re-elected in 2012 and 2017. The vote for the next four-year term, initially scheduled for December, must be held at a general assembly of the FFF on March 13 next.
Le Graët should notably face the former leader of the Professional Football League Frédéric Thiriez (68) and the entrepreneur and club advisor Michel Moulin (60).
These declared candidates have both focused their campaign on the difficulties of amateur football, hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I know I have the experience, the energy and the passion to build a team that meets your expectations and challenges.
She will give you a true, honest, non-demagogic, pragmatic but also resolutely constructive and optimistic speech with me for the future of French football, ”says the current president in the letter sent on Thursday.
Le Graët, who has chosen the club at the heart of the game as his slogan, recalls the "unprecedented context" in which "the whole world of amateur and professional football is struggling, which is hit hard by the consequences of the health crisis.
The methods that worked yesterday, in a stable and growing environment, cannot be applied tomorrow. ”
The entrepreneur, and former president of En avant Guingamp, also insists on the role of football, "a school of living together and a great place of education", with young people "who are both athletes of high level and above all the citizens of tomorrow. ”
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