The closer the election is, the more the climate becomes tense around the French Rugby Federation (FFR). On the one hand, the outgoing president, Bernard Laporte, candidate for a second four-year term, on October 3. On the other, his opponent Florian Grill, leader of the Ile-de-France League, very critical of the management of federal finances and their chronic operating deficit.
The battle for numbers is also being played out in court. For months, two supporters of Mr. Grill have been trying – in vain – to obtain the right to receive the detailed accounts of the FFR in electronic format. And not just its annual accounts, communicated to all clubs ahead of each general financial meeting.
Faced with the persistent refusal of the FFR, Christian Arnaud and Eliane Cayol appealed to the administrative court of Versailles. Both occupy the co-presidency of the Rugby club of the six-furnace country, in the Var, a department nevertheless favorable to Bernard Laporte, former coach of Toulon.
The summary judge issued a first order, Friday, September 18, to which The world had access. Without having had time to decide on the merits of the case – therefore without being able to force the FFR to transmit it now – the justice system has “Suspended” urgently “Implied decision” of the federation and its “Refusal of communication of administrative documents”.
She ordered this same federation to “To pronounce again” within five days, that is to say until Wednesday 23 September. Unlikely, however, that the FFR suddenly changes position. Contacted by The world, the latter refuses to comment on the order.
The access commission to administrative documents seized
The procedure follows a long process. Christian Arnaud’s first letter to the FFR dates from December 9, 2019. That day, as a licensee of the federation, the six-furnace manager requests that all the accounting “ledgers” be sent in electronic format. FFR corresponding to the first three full years under the chairmanship of Mr. Laporte. Either the period from July 2017 to June 2019.
Answer nine days later: the deputy secretary general of the FFR, Laurent Gabbanini, refuses any electronic transmission. But it allows the consultation of documents on the spot, at the federal headquarters of Marcoussis (Essonne), a few hundred kilometers further.
New letter from Christian Arnaud, December 20, 2019. This time he cites article L. 311-9 of the code of relations between the public and the administration, according to which the choice of the mode of communication lies with the applicant. New response from the FFR, January 10. Mr. Gabbanini persists in his refusal to transmit documents electronically, in order to prevent their circulation: “The FFR wishes to ensure that these elements of information are not exploited in a ‘political’ context which could harm the institution, according to their interpretative digressions. ”
Mr. Arnaud then seized the commission for access to administrative documents (CADA). On June 25, CADA agreed with him and considered “Communicable” all requested documents. She emits “A favorable opinion to the sending by electronic mail to the applicant of the documents existing in this form”. While adding that “The FFR would be justified in law to offer the applicant an on-site consultation of documents existing only on paper, provided that the latter can carry a copy of the elements that he has selected”.
On this basis, new letter from Mr. Arnaud to the FFR, July 6. This time, no answer.
According to justice, the electoral context cannot be evoked
In his order of September 18, the summary judge confirms the opinion of the CADA, under article L. 131-9 of the sports code: “The documents which the applicants requested disclosure relate to the accounts of the FFR and thus relate to the public service missions entrusted to the latter. “
Ditto for another, more specific request from Mr. Arnaud: to have access to statements, details and receipts of expenses of a particular elected representative, Henri Mondino, vice-president of the FFR in charge of territoriality, also president of the South Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur League. These are also transferable documents, according to CADA, with the exception of those relating to his private life.. Contacted by The world, Mr. Mondino did not wish to speak.
The summary judge specifies: “The invocation of disputes or controversies which are linked to the electoral context is not sufficient to establish the abusive nature of the request for communication made by the applicants. “
On October 3, Eliane Cayol will appear on the Grill list in the eighteenth position of candidate against Bernard Laporte. Christian Arnaud will appear on that of Didier Mené, the future head of the list against Henri Mondino, on November 7, during the ballot for the presidency of the Provencal league.
Mr. Arnaud – defended here by Me Sandrine Potenza, facing Me Jean-Baptiste Lachaume – finds himself, moreover, opposed to the FFR in another ongoing case. In July, according to our information, the Federation lodged a complaint against X for theft and concealment, with the tribunal de grande instance of Evry (Essonne). At issue: the posting on the social network Facebook of an internal order form reporting 3,000 euros in taxi costs in 2019 for the general treasurer of the FFR, Alexandre Martinez.
After checking with Facebook, the FFR identified Mr. Arnaud as the creator of this page “Ligue PACA rugby 2020”, supposed to animate the opposition to Mr. Laporte in Provence.
The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating
As the October 3 election approaches, where he will run for a second four-year term, Bernard Laporte is still under investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF). After a report from the sports ministry, investigations began in December 2017, based on suspicions of a conflict of interest with businessman Mohed Altrad. According to the biweekly Olympic noon on Monday, September 21, the president of the French Rugby Federation could be heard in the coming days by the Brigade for the repression of economic delinquency (BRDE). Just like Claude Atcher, former director of the French bid for the organization of the 2023 World Cup.
