Charles Simon

Charles Maurice Simon (25 September 1882 – 15 June 1915) was a French lawyer and a sports manager who served as the secretary general of the FGSPF and FICEP, from 1905 and 1911, respectively, until his death in 1915. In order to defend the development of football, he founded and presided over the short-lived French Interfederal Committee (CFI), which would later become the French Football Federation (FFF) in 1919. The name of Charles Simon has been attached to the Coupe de France since its creation in 1917.

In addition to sports, he was also a lover of the French language, poetry, and music.

Early life and education Charles Simon was born in the 16th arrondissement of Paris on 25 September 1882, The transcription of his death took place in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

Legacy The Trophée de France and the FGSPF Football Championship, which had lasted for ten seasons, were interrupted by the war, but in 1916, the CFI relaunched an interfederal tournament on the same model as the Trophée de France, but simply renamed Coupe de France, in which Étoile lost the final 3–0 to Olympique de Pantin. Paul Michaux, still the president of the FGSPF, even asked the goldsmith Chobillon for an object of art to honor the memory of his friend Simon. The final of the second edition on 6 April 1919, was refereed by Simon's friend Armand Thibaudeau, who replaced him as the UIOCEP's secretary general.

The CFI was officially renamed the French Football Federation (FFF) on 7 April 1919, with Jules Rimet as president and Henri Delaunay as general secretary.

The participation of the FGSPF in the various competitions organized in the Saint Damase courtyard of the Vatican earned Charles Simon the cross of the Order of St. Sylvester in July 1915, while the military medal was awarded to him posthumously in 1923. Pierre de Coubertin recognized him as "a remarkable organizer as well as an ardent apostle".