A financial agreement has been reached between the French Football Federation (FFF) and Corinne Deacon to terminate the contract of the former coach of the France women’s team, AFP learned on Tuesday from her lawyer. The newspaper L’Équipe had already shared the information. Deacon, sacked on March 9 from her position as coach but who was still linked to the FFF until August 2024, will receive 870,000 euros, Me Christophe Ayela told AFP.
This sum corresponds to the emoluments which were due to him until the end of his contract, increased by an additional year. It also includes “a percentage” of the bonuses provided in the event of Les Bleues titles at the World Cup this summer and at the Paris Olympics in 2024. On April 15, L’Équipe revealed that Deacon was hoping for 6 million euros in compensation.
“Corinne Deacon is relieved by this agreement which allows her to turn the page and move on to new projects in the world of football, Me Ayela told AFP. It is an agreement that marks the respect due to him for his sporting results in the France team. Corinne Deacon’s lawyer stressed that the issue of the discussion had been to obtain “additional reparations for the damage to the image”.
“This is what took time in the discussion and was obtained, continued Me Ayela. There was a media campaign by three players and Jean-Michel Aulas (in charge of women’s football within the FFF executive committee, editor’s note) who condemned her before judging her. It deserved further repair.”
Corinne Deacon had been weakened by a revolt of several players (Wendie Renard, Marie-Antoinette Katoto, Kadidiatou Diani…) who had questioned, without naming her, her management methods. She was replaced by Hervé Renard, who will be responsible for leading Les Bleues at the next World Cup (July 20-August 20 in Australia and New Zealand) and at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
“I would like to thank the president of the French Football Federation, Philippe Diallo, who handled this file with loyalty, moderation and humanity. He showed tact and intelligence,” concluded Me Ayela.
