the complaint against the FFT closed without further action, the complainants file a civil action

The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) dismissed on Wednesday June 14 the various complaints against the management of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) for suspicion of corruption and “dembezzlement of public property“in connection with the ticket office for the Grand Slam tournament at Roland-Garros, franceinfo learned from the PNF, confirming information from Le Monde. The PNF considers that there is “no offense“.

The complaint against X implicated Gilles Moretton, his former chief of staff Hugues Cavallin and the general treasurer of the FFT Jean-Luc Barrière. The complainants suspected an illicit sale of tickets for the Paris tournament within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ARA) league then chaired by Gilles Moretton.

The plaintiffs bring civil action

“The transfers in question took place before the modification of article 72 of the general regulations of the FFT, in force from February 2020, which expressly prohibited any transfer by the decentralized bodies of the FFT within the framework of partnership agreements.“, justifies the PNF in its decision. The financial prosecutor’s office specifies that “non-compliance with the general conditions of sale of tickets granted to the leagues does not appear likely to characterize the offense of embezzlement of public funds“. He adds that “the disputed ticket sales gave rise to consistent financial compensation for the benefit of the leagues concerned, without any misappropriation or personal profit on the part of the managers“.

“Moreover, no objective element makes it possible to support the acts of corruption which are denounced“, specifies the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office. Following the decision of the PNF, the lawyers for the plaintiffs announced to franceinfo that they are bringing a civil action to obtain the appointment of an investigating judge.