The former president of the French Football Federation Jean

At the head of the FFF from 2005 to 2010, the Biterrois passed away on Tuesday, as announced by the FFF in a statement.

Published on April 14, 2026 at 16:49, updated on April 14, 2026 at 18:29.

Reading time: 3min

Jean-Pierre Escalettes, president of the French Football Federation (FFF) from 2005 to 2010, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, as announced by the FFF in a statement. “A deeply respected and appreciated figure of French football, Jean-Pierre Escalettes dedicated his entire life to our sport, which he served with passion, humanity, and loyalty, from his beginnings as a player, coach, and club leader to the highest federal responsibilities,” said the governing body of French football.

In charge of the “FFF” for five years, Jean-Pierre Escalettes had notably experienced the final of the 2006 World Cup and the awarding, in 2010, of Euro 2016 to France. Under his presidency, he also created the National Volunteers Day (1998) and the Football Foundation (2008).

In addition to his role in the FFF, Escalettes began as a coach and leader at CA Riberac, a club in Dordogne where the stadium now bears his name, according to ICI Périgord. He advanced through the ranks in football governance, founding the National Council of Amateur Football in 1995, which is now the Amateur Football League. Ten years later, he ascended to the highest position in the FFF, succeeding Claude Simonet.

“I salute a man of conviction, profoundly human, deeply committed to football values, whose dedication, desire for transmission – inherited from his teaching past -, sense of collectivity, and devotion to our sport will remain exemplary forever,” reacted current president Philippe Diallo as quoted in the FFF statement.

Escalettes, an English teacher by profession and Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1998, was also known to be close to Raymond Domenech, whom he retained as head coach after the failure of Euro 2008, where France exited in the group stages without a win. It was also during his tenure that Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele, and Lilian Thuram came out of retirement to participate in the French campaign in the 2006 World Cup final, lost to Italy.

His term ended when he announced his resignation on July 23, 2010, following the Knysna episode and the strike of the French national team during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. “It was the great tragedy of his presidency. He was actually the first to let me know when he resigned. I had tried to dissuade him, but the pressure was too strong. I replaced him in a very complicated situation,” said Fernand Duchaussoy to L’Equipe, who then served as interim before Noël Le Graët was elected in June 2011.