With the election date for the presidency of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) approaching (October 3), the battle for numbers is raging. The opposition list, led by Florian Grill, denounced a "worrying financial situation". For Le Figaro, the treasurer of the federation, Alexandre Martinez, responds point by point to the attacks of the one who is running for Bernard Laporte and to one of his running mate Abdelatif Benazzi.
Cyclical deficits…
The opposition points out that, for three years, the FFR has posted operating losses (15 million euros cumulative). The current leaders affirm, them, that only the financial year 2017-2018 ended in a negative balance (- 7.35 M €, mainly linked to the provisions for the abandonment of the Grand Stade project). The recent steering committee recorded a 2019-2020 fiscal year in balance despite the Covid-19 crisis and forecast a budget deficit of 5.63 M € for 2020-2021 (120.70 M € in revenue, 126.40 € m of expenditure). That Alexandre Martinez easily justifies. “This budget includes the € 35 million stimulus package for our amateur clubs hard hit by the end of competitions. Without this plan, the budget would be largely positive. And we self-finance most of it without resorting to borrowing. We only use our own funds for € 5.60 million. I therefore state loud and clear that the financial situation of the FFR is extremely robust. "
"I am a careful treasurer"
Alexandre MartinezThese funds, the opposition accuses the current team of squandering them. A criticism also refuted by Alexandre Martinez. “Today we have € 32.30 million in equity. Less this deficit of 5.60 M €, we will have 26.70 M € after the implementation of the recovery plan. Which is extremely comfortable for a federation. This allows you to see the future in a peaceful way. ”All the more, underlines the treasurer, that the FFR relies on a“ stock of signed partnerships which has never been so important: 110 M € guaranteed until 2024 ”, and that the probable agreement to come with CVC Capital Partners for the buyout of the Six Nations Tournament will bring additional financial windfall. "I'm a careful treasurer, so I didn't count it. But if this contract were signed, it would totally change the outcome of the 2020-2021 budget. "
… For the benefit of amateur clubs
Alexandre Martinez recalls that the FFR's policy has changed since the arrival of Bernard Laporte. Abandonment of the extremely expensive Grand Stade project in favor of "developing the practice of rugby". “With, as financial implications, a program of reorientation of resources for amateur clubs and the establishment of a training sector, with the recruitment of 200 technical advisers. Faithful to this "mission", the FFR immediately went to the aid of its amateur clubs seriously endangered by the health crisis. “From April 1, until June 30, 2021, there will be no license and insurance fees charged to clubs. "And to recall that between the" program of reorientation of resources towards amateur clubs, that is already 48 M € distributed, and this recovery plan of 35 M €, the FFR has returned 83 M € to its base ".
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Insurance fund is not in danger
Florian Grill and his running mate criticize the FFR for taking a risk by drawing on its insurance fund to finance part of its assistance plan for amateur clubs. “I am extremely comfortable on this subject, retorts Alexandre Martinez. This insurance fund is money taken over time from clubs. Set up at the end of the 1990s, it is based on the principle of an annual bonus of € 23 million: a provisional premium for minor accidents of € 12 million and a possible reminder of premiums, depending on the number of seriously injured per season, from 11 M €. The contract with our insurer fixes this premium reminder for 3 seriously injured. Beyond, the insurer assumes alone. It was planned to size it to cope with two years full of recalls, or € 22 million. However, this insurance fund is currently very much higher (€ 58.80 million). Given the threat hanging over our amateur clubs, we considered it appropriate to assume in this fund the cost of insurance costs that we will not charge until June 2021, i.e. € 16 million. It will then remain close to € 43 million. There is therefore no danger. "
The average wage ratio to the FFR has decreased
"It is true that the payroll has increased by 65%, recognizes immediately the treasurer. But this is partial information from the opposition, which forgets that the starting point is set for the 2014-2015 season. However, we only came to business in the middle of the 2016-2017 season, and 35% of the increase took place before our arrival! The payroll then continued to increase because we needed to recruit skills in the fields of training, communication and sports. However, since our arrival, the rate of increase in the wage bill has been lower than that of the increase in the number of employees. The average wage ratio therefore fell at FFR. "
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