At the highest level, it is already visible. Under the presidency of Noël Le Graët, the French Football Federation (FFF) has entrusted several strategic positions to women. That of general manager at Florence Hardouin (since 2013); that of deputy vice-president to Brigitte Henriques (since 2017); that of general secretary to Laura Georges (since 2017).
An even broader task now remains, as for all sports federations: to continue to feminize also the lower-level governing bodies, in the steering committees of regional leagues and departmental districts.
The challenge of renewal is of importance for French sport. Recent accounts of sexual violence in figure skating have brought it to light again. "The current context favors reflections on the evolution of our society and on the place of women", recognizes Brigitte Henriques. The former international insists on "Open-minded work" at the FFF, fifty years after the institution officially recognized women footballers.
Tuesday, March 10 (from 9 p.m.), the Blue will face the Netherlands in Valenciennes at the end of a friendly tournament. Three days earlier, on the sidelines of their victory over Brazil (1-0), the FFF reunited the members of its "club of 100 leaders". For the time being, the club takes it into account "Almost 80", recognizes Brigitte Henriques. Since 2017, on the proposal of leagues and districts, three promotions have already expanded this collective supposed "Identify, value and support" women into positions of responsibility. With one intention: to achieve more "Diversity" and at a "Plurality of points of view".
No female league president
Workshops to help with speaking out, preparing for meetings, or even financial statements: the training is accompanied each year by several modules at the Paris headquarters of the federation.
After organizing the Women's World Cup in 2019, the FFF now claims some 198,000 licensees. Among them, more than 158,000 practitioners and 38,000 leaders. Almost 10% of the total number of licenses issued this season.
Also increasing for several seasons, the proportion of women in the leadership of leagues and departments is now 13%. Eleven years ago, it was barely 7%, according to the data communicated to the World by the federation.
But, beyond the status of simple member, few already occupy positions of responsibility. Of the 22 regional leagues (13 in mainland France and 9 overseas), the federal account barely identifies a vice-president, a treasurer and a general secretary. Among the 91 departmental districts, two women presidents; a deputy president; fourteen vice-presidents, thirteen treasurers and eighteen general secretaries.
"We get a taste for it"
Explanations from Catherine Bollea, member of the executive committee of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté League: "Sometimes it’s very difficult to convince women to get involved. When asked, they say, “Ah, but no, why me? I'm not going to get there ”. " Françoise Vallet, president of the Nièvre district: "If we have been appointed to this or that position, it is because we have the skills. If you also know the world of football, if you know what we are talking about, you should be able to talk as equals with men. " Valérie Colin, treasurer of the Ligue de Paris: "Sometimes we have the feeling that they prefer to stay with each other, they also have to agree to see us with them. "
For her part, Nathalie Cockenpot directs the club of Vimy (Pas-de-Calais), whose men's team plays in the fifth national division (National 3):
"I started as the club's Facebook page manager, then as general secretary, then as president. And we get a taste for it. At the beginning, among the volunteers, we see a lot of dads, and very few moms, or else confined to the preparation of sandwiches or to the bar. "
Since 2014, the law for real equality between men and women already imposes a certain representativeness. In federations where women constitute less than a quarter of the licenses, the minimum proportion of women in national governing bodies is set at 25%. This is indeed the case at the FFF: Brigitte Henriques, Laura Georges and Marie Barsacq are among the twelve members of the executive committee.
The sports ministry is now considering expanding these criteria to leagues and districts. A working document on the future “sports” bill, which The world has obtained, intends to impose a proportion of 25% minimum on devolved bodies. Hence this call from Brigitte Henriques: "Rather than having something imposed by law, let's show the example before. " Just to expand the club.
