French prosecutors drop harassment probe into ex-soccer chief Le Graet

Paris — French prosecutors on Monday said they had dropped an investigation into sexual and moral harassment allegations against former French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet.

The preliminary inquiry, opened in January 2023, was closed on Oct. 17 due to insufficient evidence, the Paris public prosecution office said in e-mailed comments.

Le Graet, 82, who had led the federation since 2011, resigned in February but denied any wrongdoing. His departure followed a government audit that concluded he no longer had "the necessary legitimacy" to lead French soccer.

French papers L'Equipe and Le Monde first reported that the investigation into Le Graet had been dropped.

"I lived through a nightmare, but being cleared in this affair brings some comfort," Le Graet told L'Equipe in an interview published on Monday, adding that he felt anger but also relief.