Just a day after France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of key players, the national federation dismissed her from her post.

The French Football Federation pointed to the “fracture” in her relationship with the players in its announcement of the decision Thursday. The “very significant divide” within the team “has reached a point of no return,” the FFF said.

Three top French players had refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return.

Yet Diacre pushed back against the criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said in a statement Wednesday.

The FFF executive committee cited “irreversible” dysfunction in its decision to part ways with the 48-year-old coach. A four-person panel commissioned by interim FFF president Philippe Diallo had reviewed Diacre’s tenure in the wake of the players’ departures.

Diacre had coached the France senior national team since 2017. She was involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. She stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021, and she left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

The four-person panel has been charged with finding a replacement coach “as soon as possible” as the team, No. 5 in FIFA’s world rankings, continues its preparations for the World Cup.

France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre has vowed to remain at the helm despite the departures of several top players.

Three top French players have refused to play for their country in this summer’s World Cup under the “current system,” they announced on Feb. 24.

France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

Yet Diacre plans to stay on as coach through the World Cup, she said in a statement released Wednesday. She also pushed back against criticism of her leadership.

“I have been the subject of a smear campaign that is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty,” she said.

Diacre has coached the France senior national team since 2017, but she has been involved in a number of controversies during her tenure. For example, she stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021. She also left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.

“My detractors have not hesitated to attack my personal and professional integrity without bothering with the truth,” Diacre said. “I will not let myself be affected by this destabilization operation, which does not take into account my sporting record, and whose only objective is a personal settling of scores.”

French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët resigned in February, which brought a temporary halt to the FFF’s consideration of Diacre’s fate. Her future will be discussed at a meeting of the FFF executive committee on Thursday, per reports.

France women’s national team coach Corinne Diacre remains in limbo after three top players refused to play for their country in the upcoming World Cup under the “current system.”

While she was expected to step down from her post on Tuesday, as The Times reported Monday, the resignation of French Football Federation president Noël Le Graët has halted plans regarding Diacre’s fate. Her future with the team will be decided at a March 9 meeting of the FFF executive committee.

Le Graët had served as FFF president since 2011 but resigned in the wake of sexual harassment and bullying allegations surfaced. In his absence, the executive committee will appoint a small group from among its members to consider Diacre’s case, French newspaper L’Equipe reported.

The furor over Diacre’s leadership came to a head last Friday, as France captain Wendie Renard and star forwards Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani all cited issues with Les Bleues management in their decisions to step away from the national team. Both Katoto and Diani called for “necessary changes” as a prerequisite for their return to the team.

The World Cup is set to kick off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

In response to the players’ statements, the FFF announced that its executive committee would address the issue at its meeting Tuesday. “The FFF would like to remind that no individual is above the Équipe de France institution,” the statement said.

Diacre has coached the France senior national team since 2017, but she has been involved in a number of controversies in her tenure. For example, she stripped Renard of her captaincy in 2017 before reinstating her as captain in 2021. She also left Katoto off the 2019 World Cup squad.