Claude Atcher is no longer the boss of the 2023 Rugby World Cup organizing committee. One year before the event (September 8 – October 28) organized in France, the general manager has been laid off conservatory this Monday evening, information published by L’Équipe that we can confirm. This forced departure is linked to the report of the ethics committee of the Public Interest Group (GIP) France 2023 on the internal organization of this structure which oversees the World Cup soon to be disputed in France.
An investigation launched after an article in the newspaper L’Equipe, published on June 22. The sports daily reported “the deep social malaise” which reigned within the GIP, evoking a management by terror set up by Claude Atcher and at the origin of several resignations and burn-out of employees of the structure. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had seized the labor inspectorate, which had begun its investigation at the end of June. The former director general of the French Tennis Federation had asked that the conclusions “be communicated to her quickly”.
“Alarming managerial practices”
But it was indeed the damning statements of the ethics committee on the internal situation of the GIP which pushed the Ministry of Sports, present on the board of directors of the GIP founded by the State, the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (Cnosf) and the French Rugby Federation in 2018, to push in favor of this dismissal of the boss of the event. The text reports “on the part of the general manager Mr. Claude Atcher, alarming managerial practices altering the functioning of the structure, and the state of suffering of a certain number of collaborators”, highlights the Ministry of Sports .
It also announces the establishment of an investigation by the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate for Education, Sport and Research “for, on the one hand, the existence of possible breaches of economic and financial probity or conflicts of interest and on the other hand, to support the GIP in the organization of some of its strategic programs”.
The international federation was worried
The one who had already led the tricolor candidacy is laid off until the conclusions of the labor inspection investigation. A decision taken this Monday, and which will be ratified in an exceptional board of directors of the GIP, after several weeks where Claude Atcher had found himself under more and more pressure.
As early as June, the International Federation, World Rugby, explained that it was “concerned” about the file. “We note that the case is being examined by the France 2023 ethics committee and we welcome the decision of the French Ministry of Sports to have requested that an in-depth investigation be carried out by the labor inspectorate. “, had underlined the authority.
The person concerned had mentioned the case in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche at the end of July. “When you do an in-house analysis, you don’t feel like you’re living in such an environment. This does not mean that the problem should be concealed. Maybe we missed something despite our devices, but there were never any alerts on the subjects posed in the article, “he explained, referring to a” five-point plan “to remedy it. , but also “an intergenerational gap” with its teams.
Judged in September in Paris
A month later, here is the one who denounced on Twitter “a manhunt” sidelined and the second most important sporting event, after the Olympic Games, organized in France in the coming months who loses his boss. The deputy general manager, Julien Collette, will be responsible for replacing him temporarily. Two months ago, a potential lead led to former Prime Minister Jean Castex, but the ex-tenant of Matignon was appointed head of the Infrastructure Financing Agency of France ten days ago.
Even if he is no longer at the head of the GIP, Claude Atcher will have plenty to take care of in the coming weeks since he has an appointment from September 7 to 22 at the Paris Criminal Court. The ex-boss of the 2023 World Cup will be tried for “concealment of breach of trust”, “abuse of corporate assets” and “concealed work by concealment of activity”. He will appear alongside the president of the FFR Bernard Laporte, whose federal campaign he took part in 2016, as well as the treasurer of tricolor rugby and president of Montpellier, Mohed Altrad.