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The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) confirmed on Wednesday that an investigation was opened in early October for favouritism, influence peddling and corruption concerning the management of the public interest group (GIP) France-2023, responsible for organizing the Cup of the rugby world in France.
French rugby in turmoil. A preliminary investigation was opened in early October into the management of the public interest group (GIP) France-2023, responsible for organizing the Rugby World Cup, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) said on Wednesday, November 9, confirming a Team information.
A search was underway in the morning at the headquarters of GIP France-2023, the organizing committee also indicated. The PNF confirmed carrying out searches at various locations.
The investigation was opened for favouritism, influence peddling, corruption and any other related offence, following a joint report from the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and of research.
The investigations were entrusted to the Paris Research Section.
According to the Team, “the criminal investigation is interested in these possible personal expenses borne by the GIP 2023, in certain past contracts and also in alleged irregularities related to the ticketing of the 2023 World Cup”.
At the end of June, the sports daily had published a long investigation relating the malaise at work due to “a management by terror” of the former general manager Claude Atcher.
“Alarming managerial practices”
Immediately afterwards, the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had asked for referral to the Labor Inspectorate as well as to the ethics committee of the GIP, in which the French Rugby Federation (FFR) has a majority (more than 60%) and the minority state.
The submission of the report of the ethics committee this summer, reporting “alarming managerial practices”, had led the Ministry of Sports in early September, in concert with the FFR and the French Olympic Committee, which also sits on the GIP, to update on foot as a precautionary measure Claude Atcher pending the investigation by the Labor Inspectorate.
He was finally removed from his position as general manager of the organizing committee on October 11, less than a year before the start of the competition.
In addition, a joint mission of the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate of Higher Education and Research has been working since this summer to, in particular, “analyze the existence of possible breaches of economic probity and financial or conflicts of interest” within the GIP.
According to the Ministry of Sports, “the report was made by the two inspections on the basis” of their interim report. Both services continue to work.
With AFP
