The final conclusions of this audit, requested by the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra to investigate suspicious contracts made by the FFR, are expected in June.
“No irregularity” was not noted in the accounts of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), suspected of budgetary anomalies over the period 2016-2023, by inspectors from the Ministries of Finance and Sports, announced, Thursday, May 18, the FFR in a press release.
“On May 5, the Federation benefited from a first synthetic and oral restitution of the report of the general inspections. Their first conclusions on the scope of the mission were clear: no irregularity has been noted over these last seven years of management”underlines the FFR.
This double audit, whose final conclusions are expected in June, was launched following a report sent at the end of January to the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra about suspicious contracts made by the FFR. The ministry had decided in the process, on February 3, to seize the General Directorate for Competition and Fraud Prevention (DGCCRF), before launching, jointly with its Finance counterpart, a budgetary control mission for the federation.
Almost two months of control
According to the FFR, “the inspectors carried out a very thorough check of almost two months, having access to all the internal documents of the Federation and questioning many staff and elected officials”. This check focused on “accounting, ticketing, invitations policy, salary policies, human resources management, mission expenses of elected officials and employees, operating costs, decision-making circuits, contracts, implementation procedures competition, project management”further specifies the press release.
The report “would also contain recommendations on financial management or on the management of major projects. These recommendations would allow functional improvements if necessary”finally underlines the FFR.
A troubled period before the election of a new president
The FFR has been going through a troubled period within it, since the resignation of its former president, Bernard Laporte on January 27 following his conviction (for which he appealed) to a two-year suspended prison sentence for having made a “pact of corruption” with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad. After his departure, the elected opposition members had left the FFR’s steering committee in the face of the refusal to organize new elections. Treasurer Alexandre Martinez has since served as interim president. The institution must therefore renew part of its steering committee and elect a new president. Candidates have until May 31 to declare themselves. The results will be announced on June 14.