French Football Federation Condemned for Sexual Harassment Failures
The French Football Federation (FFF) has faced a significant legal setback as the Paris Court of Appeal ruled against it for its handling of sexual harassment allegations involving a high-ranking executive. The court's decision, dated November 27, mandates the FFF to compensate a female employee with a total of €28,000 for moral damages, combining a previous award of €10,000 from an industrial tribunal in October 2021 and an additional €18,000 from the recent ruling. The case highlights serious failures in the FFF's obligation to combat sexual harassment within its ranks.
Details of the Allegations
The complainant accused Marc Varin, the FFF's financial director, of attempting to force a kiss on her twice, once in late 2017 and again during the 2018 World Cup. She also reported experiencing persistent inappropriate remarks and unwanted attention from Varin. In response to the allegations, the FFF had issued a
reminder to order
to Varin and implemented anti-harassment training at its Paris headquarters. However, the court found that the FFF allowed a toxic environment to persist, undermining the dignity of women within the organization.
Implications and Reactions
The court's ruling has been met with strong reactions, particularly from the plaintiff's lawyer, Marie-Alix Canu Bernard, who expressed frustration over the six-year duration it took for the FFF's misconduct to be acknowledged. Bernard criticized the prosecution for closing the criminal case without further action, stating that the case was crucial in revealing new facts and prompting an audit of the FFF's management practices. This audit, conducted by the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research (IGESR), ultimately contributed to the resignation of FFF President Noël Le Graët in February 2023, after 11 years in office.
