48 luxury watches were offered to the 2018 World Champions but the financial package put in place by the FFF seems illegal.
At the dawn of Euro 2020, which has been postponed until this summer, the file revealed by our colleagues on a daily basis The world does a little task. If we had heard of this history of watches – in the midst of several other files that we have been investigating for several months – it could take much more magnitude than the French Football Federation could think.
Because it comes at a time when the Leagues and Districts are almost all showing negative results. A period when many rural clubs are trying to survive after the Covid-19 pandemic. So let’s take a look back at this watch business. In the fall of 2018, the FFF ordered 48 watches from the Swiss watchmaker International Watch Co. (IWC) for the players and staff of the France team. As Le Monde reminds us, they were models Portugieser Chronographe with blue dial.
According to the daily, the commercial value of this order was 364,800 euros, or 7,600 euros per unit. After checking with IWC, these prices correspond to the model at that time. But beyond this gift – which arrived in addition to the premium of 400,000 euros per day – it is the way in which the FFF carried out the assembly that raises many questions. Because it is basically a benefit in kind to be declared to the French tax authorities.
But the federal body wanted to ensure that players were protected from this poisoned gift by passing these watches off as promotional items. Le Monde is aware of the contract between the FFF and IWC drawn up in October 2018 with a discounted price of 145,920 euros instead of 364,800 euros. It is thus worded that it is“A first ad hoc cooperation”. The marketing department would then have tried to pay a high price for the watches in exchange for a retrocommission of 150,000 euros. Which is perfectly illegal!
Retro-concession, a common practice
But it is a practice which was common in certain Leagues at the beginning of the years 2010. Indeed, presidents did not hesitate to indebted their authority in exchange for a long-term contract and an ephemeral partnership which made it possible to complete the budget with a surplus … just before the election. But that will be the subject of another subject.
Regarding the file in the FFF and IWC, the players of the France team posed with their watch in November 2018 and the Swiss brand claimed on Twitter that it was official partner of the FFF with supporting photos. In exchange, again according to Le Monde, the FFF give IWC the possibility of “Communicate around this operation” and “To use the name of the FFF and / or that of the French team within the framework of these communication operations”. But tickets for the Blues matches or autographed jerseys and balls were also included in the consideration. This is what is completely illegal.
In addition, this expenditure above 300,000 euros should have been deliberated and voted by the executive committee of the French Football Federation, as indicated in its regulations. But it never was! So who made the decision to sign this dubious business contract? “Noël Le Graët or Florence Hardouin” wonders Le Monde? Was the president aware or the Director-General managed alone? In any case, this watch story is not really good news for the FFF at the moment. To be continued …
