“A situation for which she is solely responsible”: Aulas’ response to Deacon

The vice-president of the French Football Federation Jean-Michel Aulas affirmed Friday that he was not at the origin of the dismissal of former coach Corinne Diacre who is, according to him, "the sole responsible" for this situation. “His departure followed an audit by the FFF. He noted serious deficiencies in management, having led to strong tensions between the players and the coach, as well as with all of his staff, who were also carefully questioned,” reacted Jean-Michel Aulas on X (ex-Twitter), while he was questioned by the former coach.

“The management of Corinne Diacre has also led to an unprecedented situation in the history of women's football, forcing the best French players to refuse to play under the blue colors as long as Corinne Diacre is at the head, a few months away only for the 2023 World Cup,” he added, specifying that she was “solely responsible” for his dismissal.

Also read “There was a very well-developed plan, I had to have my head”: Corinne Diacre breaks the silence and takes out the sulphate

On Wednesday in an interview with L'Équipe, Corinne Diacre pointed out the role played in her ouster by Jean-Michel Aulas, former president of OL and head of women's football at the Federation. “He had a lot more power when Noël Le Graët resigned (from his position as president of the FFF, on February 28, 2023). It all starts from there,” she says. “From the start, because I didn't do what he would have wanted, what he expected regarding the players at his club. I managed the French team. A national selection is made up of elements from several clubs. Even if there are very good players in this club, there are also elsewhere,” she explains, adding that Aulas would have wanted more Lyonnaises in the selection.

“Beyond the animosity around me, there was a very well-developed plan. Basically, I had to have my head,” said the 49-year-old technician, replaced in March 2023 by Hervé Renard, after being let go by several executives including captain Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani.