An investigation into the management of the 2023 World Cup organizing committee has been opened by the national financial prosecutor’s office.
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, confirming information from The Team.
This 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 research, in particular on the management of the former managing director Claude Atcher, dismissed in mid-October. A search is underway at the headquarters of the organizing committee of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) is currently carrying out a search at the headquarters of the Organizing Committee, officially reacted France 2023. This intervention is part of the continuity of the mission of the General Inspectorate of Finance, mandated this summer by the government to verify the management of the entities of the Organizing Committee (GIP, GIE and Endowment Fund) with the General Inspectorate national education, sport and research.
France 2023 will not make any further comments on the subject.
Laid off as a precautionary measure in August due to “alarming managerial practices“, Claude Atcher had been officially dismissed from his position as general manager of the organizing committee of the 2023 World Cup, less than a year before the start of the competition.
“There is substance”
In addition, a joint mission from 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 any breaches of economic and financial probity or conflicts of interest” ow be you GIP. “There is substance”, said a source familiar with the matter.
Claude Atcher, former third line, 66, appeared in September before the Paris Criminal Court for “concealment of breach of trust” alongside the president of the FFR Bernard Laporte for having collected sums with his company Score XV undue from 2017, when he was leading France’s candidacy for the World Cup. Two years in prison, one of which was suspended, were requested against him. Judgment was reserved for December 13.