Toulouse Tennis Club Imbroglio: Investigation Launched into Alleged Abuse of Funds and Breach of Trust
An investigation has been launched by the Toulouse prosecutor’s office into allegations of abuse of corporate assets and breach of trust surrounding the management of the Toulouse stadium Tennis Padel club, which entered compulsory liquidation in 2024. The inquiry follows a damning report from the Regional Chamber of Accounts in Occitania, revealing serious irregularities under the leadership of former president Marc Tiersonnier, who held the position from 2016 to 2024.
The Court of Auditors’ report, examined between September 2009 and May 2024, indicates that the club, once a dynamic and renowned institution, saw its finances deteriorate under Tiersonnier’s tenure. A key issue identified was the gradual transfer of the club’s activities to two commercial subsidiaries, Staten and Les Raquettes, while the association itself faced increasing financial strain.
Tiersonnier allegedly exerted unchecked control over the club’s three entities – the association handling tennis courses, Staten managing sporting goods sales and court rentals, and Les Raquettes operating the on-site restaurant and bar, John’s Club – ultimately consolidating all commercial activity under Staten by 2021. According to the Court of Auditors, this structure facilitated “a financial overlap with these commercial companies at the expense of the association.”
“The president acted out of all control,” a senior official stated, noting that the general meeting was “little informed,” the Management Council “never gathered,” and the office was “chosen by the president himself” without proper statutory delegation. Investigators are now scrutinizing the flow of funds, particularly the whereabouts of €946,000 in public aid and €548,000 in private donations received between 2019 and 2024.
The Court’s report alleges that subsidies intended for the association were illegally diverted to commercial ventures, with specific attention being paid to cash transfers to Staten. The situation culminated in the club’s liquidation, attributed to “an inexpensive management of the association” characterized by a 68% increase in uncontrolled operating expenses between the 2019-2020 and 2022-2023 seasons, coupled with its financial entanglement with Staten and Les Raquettes.
Further compounding the financial woes, the club reportedly extended a €716,000 cash advance to these companies in 2024, which was never repaid. The Court of Auditors also highlighted significant expenses related to player costs – including petrol, car rentals, hotels, and meals – averaging around €100,000 annually, with “without real internal control procedure.” Despite internal alerts, these concerns were allegedly ignored.
Adding to the scrutiny, reports indicate Tiersonnier received over €600,000 in raw wages in recent years, alongside benefits like a rental car and travel expenses, despite these not being stipulated in the association’s statutes. The investigation continues as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of the alleged financial mismanagement and determine accountability for the club’s collapse.
