June 18 will be a historic date for French football: Indeed, for the first time, the president of the FFF, the French Football Federation, will be elected “democratically” after a vote among several candidates. Gone are the elections where the only candidate was elected unanimously; the new system in place, although not yet a universal suffrage vote, is still something impressive and allows anyone with the characteristics and ability to garner necessary support to run as a candidate.
That’s what the three departing candidates have done: the outgoing president, Fernand Duchaussoy (68 years old), particularly representing the amateur world; Vice-President Noël Le Graët (69 years old), from the professional side and a former President of the LFP, and lastly the unknown Eric Thomas, a young manager of an amateur club and leader of the French Amateur Football Association (AFFA).
They could be called, like in “spaghetti western” movies, the favorite, the challenger, and the outsider!
If Eric Thomas certainly took advantage of the new regulations to gain personal notoriety and above all a big publicity boost for his web magazine www.footdenbas.com, the competition between the other two candidates looks tough.
Indeed, the choice between the two men, with completely opposite profiles, is above all a societal choice.
Should the FFF be considered as an SME or an association?
Of course, with 240 employees and 200 million euros in turnover, management skills akin to those in the business world are required.
However, from a spiritual point of view, we must not forget the two million licensed members and all the volunteers who bring football to life beyond economic constraints.
During the electoral campaign, Mr. Le Graët (business leader) — who had withdrawn his candidacy at the last minute in December when Mr. Duchaussoy was elected — did not wait to launch hostilities against his rival, a former physics-chemistry professor.
“Humanly, he is a man of great quality. However, he has worked in a completely different field from mine all his life. He knows amateur football well, the regulations. But I would not trust him with my company, that’s clear. I believe everyone should be in their right place for a while; the economic leader should be number one, and the amateur leader number two. That’s it!” asserted the vice-president of the FFF, also the founding president of Celtigel, a food company, during his aggressive electoral campaign.
Moreover, his approach is largely indicative of this mindset (“Economy at the service of amateur football”) as well as the composition of his list.
The former president of the Professional Football League is notably accompanied by two club presidents, Alexandre Lacombe (Sochaux) and Jacques Rousselot (Nancy), as well as Bernard Désumer, treasurer of the FFF and, like Rousselot, a member of the current Federal Council.
His list also includes Brigitte Olive, head of the women’s section of Paris SG, and Joël Müller, sports director of Metz (L2). Four amateur leaders complete the team of the FFF’s No.2.
“Reassure, unite, and reform”: this is the objective of the outgoing president Fernand Duchaussoy, elected in December to head the body.
“I have chosen to surround myself with a team of competent people, recognized in their field and ready to commit with me to build the renewal and the future of football together.
The entire football family is united on this list, and all are involved and passionate about football. My guiding principle is competence,” said Mr. Duchaussoy, outlining his vision for the future, namely “to renovate the Federation” to better “unite,” strengthen the resources of decentralized structures (leagues, districts, and clubs), and ensure that football “shines” “beyond the fields” through its social and civic role.
Above all, he reiterated that he has a “real desire to see through the reform” initiated after the disastrous South African World Cup of the French team, with the ambition to prepare French football for the “decisive years leading to Euro 2016.”
The president of the FFF is notably accompanied by Robin Leproux, president of Paris SG, former France team goalkeeper Bernard Lama, president of the Seine Saint-Denis district Jamel Sandjak, and two league presidents, Lionel Boland (Normandy) and Vincent Nolorgues (Auvergne).
Another list will also be a candidate, led on behalf of the French Amateur Football Association (AFFA) by Eric Thomas, manager of an amateur club and leader of the website footdenbas.com, which will also be supported by former international Michel Bibard (Olympic champion in 1984).
Mr. Thomas does not spare the two favorites “I put them back-to-back; they are from the same outgoing team,” he judged. “The federation is a ship adrift, caught in the storm, without heading or captain. Their two programs are smoky declarations of intent. With them, nothing will change.”
Ultimately, what a difference between the two candidates: the servant of football facing the successful entrepreneur, the good-natured facing the dynamic, the amateur and the professional, the round and the square!
The final choice will be made next Saturday by the votes of the 400 grand electors (of which 67% come from the amateur world and 33% from professionalism).
