The General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research (IGESR) conducted a five-month probe and found President Noël Le Graët to have "failed Federal governance".

Hardouin was also investigated, with the IGESR report ruling that she should be sacked.

It stated that her management style "can be described as brutal" and her relationship with Le Graët was "toxic".

The FFF initially suspended her on January 11 before finalising the termination of her contract.

Hardouin had served in her role since 2013 but the FFF considered her departure essential due to the "degraded relationship and source of dysfunctions" between her and the President, who resigned on February 28.

Several directors and staff within the FFF had also complained about her ability to serve the organisation as far back as 2018.

Hardouin's lawyers have spoken out against the decision, claiming that the dismissal is based purely on the IGESR report which they believe is not sound enough reason to do so.

"The FFF itself recognises the unfounded nature of the brutal procedure implemented against our client, by renouncing to invoke the slightest serious fault in support of the dismissal and by cancelling her layoff," said Margaux Mathieu and Hervé Temime.

"The FFF is now trying to justify the dismissal of Florence Hardouin based on the audit report, the conclusions of which the FFF and Mr. Le Graët nevertheless strongly contest.

"Above all, the preliminary interview with our client had initially been set before the announced outcome of this audit: the real reason for the unfair procedure suffered by our client is obviously quite different, it is an obvious act of reprisal."

Hardouin believes that her sacking is the result of her hearing with the IGESR where she was not able to back up claims of sexual harassment against Le Graët.

The former President is being targeted after multiple complaints of sexual misconduct were filed against him.

"The FFF is trying to hold its employee responsible for the 'unprecedented crisis of legitimacy' that the FFF is going through, by accusing it of a 'toxic relationship' with the President," said Mathieu and Temime.

"The FFF goes so far as to criticise our client for not having created the tools to effectively fight against sexual and gender-based violence, when it is established that Florence Hardouin was herself the victim of this violence.

"Blaming a woman victim of harassment for not having put in place the tools to fight against sexual and gender-based violence, while publicly acknowledging the journey of the person who is nevertheless at the origin of this violence: it is an absolute injustice."

Hardouin and her lawyers are said to be considering taking the case to an industrial tribunal.