Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra dismisses Mr. Achter just over a year from the start of the competition. WorldRugby”fully approve» the approach of the French Ministry of Sports.
The 2023 World Cup is pitching: its general manager Claude Atcher was laid off on Monday, just over a year before the start of the competition, “as a precaution» et «with immediate effect” due “alarming managerial practices“. The World Cup, scheduled in France from September 8 to October 28 and which must begin with an XXL shock between the Blues and the All Blacks, will it take place with or without Atcher?
At the end of June, a labor inspection investigation was launched after an article in the sports daily The team detailing adeep social malaisewithin the GIP (Public Interest Group) France-2023, the institution in charge of organizing the World Cup led by Atcher. In question, according to a report by the GIP ethics committee, “alarming managerial practices altering the functioning of the structure” and of “the state of suffering of a certain number of collaborators».
The Ministry of Sports has therefore decided to lay off Claude Atcher “as a precaution with immediate effect, for the time necessary to close the investigation currently being carried out by the labor inspectorate“. Result, Atcher “will no longer be present or active, directly or indirectly, within, in the name and on behalf of the GIP during the entire period of the conservatory layoff“, Indicates the press release from the Ministry of Sports.
Collet instead
He will be temporarily replaced in his functions by the deputy director general of the GIP, Julien Collette. This decision was taken in concert with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), the two other shareholders of the organizing committee of the Mondial-2023. The Federation “is fully associated with the action plan decided today in consultation with the Ministry of Sports and the President of GIP France-2023, Jacques Rivoal».
«The deep values of rugby call for perfect vigilance as to their respect. The Federation has based its action on the protection of all its populations, employees are obviously part of its priorities“, explained the FFR to AFP. “The decision is taken as a precautionary measure pending receipt of the Labor Inspectorate’s conclusions, which will prescribe the action to be taken, with everyone having the opportunity to defend their rights. The FFR will convene an extraordinary Board of Directors of the GIP to ratify this decision during the week.“, continued the instance.
For its part, World Rugby, the governing body of world rugby, told AFP that it “fully endorsed the conclusions and the action plan communicated by the French Ministry of Sports today on the subject of the social climate within the France-2023 organizing committee».
A second open investigation and trial
«World Rugby is deeply concerned by the allegations presented in the French media. The welfare of the rugby family is paramount and central to the values of unity, inclusion and togetherness that embody the World Cup“added World Rugby, assuring its desire to”continue to provide its support and expertise to the France-2023 Organizing Committee in order to deliver together an exceptional Rugby World Cup in France».
In addition, the statement from the Ministry of Sports adds, a second investigation has been opened: “a joint mission of the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research was initiated by the State to, on the one hand, analyze the existence of possible breaches of economic and financial probity or conflicts of interest and, on the other hand, support the GIP in the organization of some of its strategic programs».
The former third line will also be judged from September 7 with the president of the FFR Bernard Laporte and the boss of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad in the context of suspicions of favoritism around the sponsorship of the XV of France. He will appear forbreach of trust», «misuse of corporate assets” and of “concealed work by concealment of activity“. Just over a year from the kick-off, the Mondial-2023 is faltering.