France head coach Corinne Diacre has been fired just five months out from the 2023 Women's World Cup, after an internal review by the France Football Federation's (FFF) Executive Committee found an "irreversible" rift between herself and a number of senior players.
The review was sparked by the decision of captain Wendie Renard to withdraw from the national team last month due to ongoing issues with Diacre's management, as well as the lack of support from the FFF.
"I defended the blue, white and red shirt 142 times with passion, respect, commitment and professionalism," Renard wrote on social media.
"I love France more than anything. I am not perfect — far from it — but I can no longer support the current system. Not to mention the requirements at the highest level.
"It is a sad, although necessary, day in order to preserve my mental wellbeing. It is with a heavy heart that I inform you with this message that I am stepping back from the French national team. Unfortunately, I will not participate in a World Cup under these conditions.
"My face can hide the pain, but my heart is hurting. I do not want to be in pain any longer. Thank you for your support and respecting my decision."
The eight-time Champions League winning defender was soon followed by Paris Saint-Germain pair Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, while others on the team — such as the injured Griedge Mbock Bathy — released public statements supporting their decision to step away.
Diacre was appointed to the role in 2017 after she become the first French woman to coach a men's side when she took charge of Ligue 2 side Clermont.
The rifts between the 48-year-old and the players began not long afterwards, with Diacre stripping Renard of the captaincy after France's quarter-final exit from the 2017 Women's European Championships, claiming Renard "wasn't at the international level". Renard was reinstated in 2021.
Diacre has been regularly criticised by senior players over the years, with veteran goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi announcing on French television in 2020 that "winning a title with this coach" was "impossible", before announcing that she would not represent France while Diacre remained at the helm.
Other senior players — including Eugénie Le Sommer, Gaëtane Thiney and Amandine Henry — had also publicly criticised Diacre in the past and were subsequently omitted from future teams, with national top-scorer Le Sommer and Olympique Lyonnais stalwart Henry both missing the 2022 Women's European Championships.
Despite these regular complaints, Diacre had been stoutly defended by the FFF and its president, Noël Le Graët, over the years.
However, the recent resignation of Le Graët — following allegations of sexual harassment and bullying — meant Diacre lost one of her most-powerful allies in the federation.
In a statement to AFP via her lawyer last week, Diacre claimed she had been “the subject of a smear campaign, which is astonishing in its violence and dishonesty”.
A taskforce was urgently established by interim president Philippe Diallo late last month to review Diacre's situation, with the federation confirming her sacking on Thursday night, local time.
"The numerous hearings conducted made it possible to establish the observation of a very significant fracture with senior players and highlighted a discrepancy with the requirements of the very high level," the FFF said in a statement.
"This divide has reached a point of no return that harms the interests of the selection.
"If the FFF recognises the involvement and seriousness of Corinne Diacre and her staff in the exercise of their mission, it appears that the dysfunctions observed seem, in this context, irreversible.
"This change of coach is part of a new global ambition, led by the FFF, for the development of women's football and the performance of the France team, which will have to achieve high objectives during the 2023 World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games.
"The Executive Committee also noted that the way players express their criticism was no longer acceptable in the future and intends to propose in the governance of the Women's France Team a complementary mission between the Executive Committee and the coach."
France are scheduled to play Colombia and Canada in the April international window before facing Republic of Ireland and Australia in two final World Cup warm-up matches. They have been drawn in Group F with Jamaica, Brazil and Panama.
Meanwhile, Football Australia has confirmed the Matildas will take on Scotland in April, four days before facing reigning European Championship winners England in London.
