The tone has gone up a notch.
With a loud voice, a piercing gaze, Florian Grill banged his fist on the table, this Friday morning, in a room at the Charléty stadium (Paris XIII).
The president of the Ile-de-France Rugby League, leader of the opposition within the French Federation, did not mince his words.
“The image of the FFR is more degraded than ever, whether in France or internationally, thundered the leader of the Ovale Ensemble collective, supported by personalities from the world of rugby such as Abdelatif Benazzi, Jean-Marc Lhermet or Philip Spanghero.
The revelations of the Team show a disaster around France 2023 (organizer of the World Cup which will take place from September 8 to October 28) and its governance by the FFR.
Those of the Parisian with the ticket office scandal further add to the trouble.
It seems essential to us that this Federation, which is falling apart, be taken in hand.
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The opportunity presents itself next week in the form of a referendum.
The clubs affiliated with the FFR and entitled to participate in the ballot, from Monday to Thursday noon, can therefore decide whether or not to maintain Patrick Buisson as delegate president of the FFR.
The latter was appointed by Bernard Laporte, withdrawn from his position as president after his conviction for corruption and influence peddling at first instance (he appealed in the process) on December 13, 2022 by the Paris court.
“We are worried about the security of this electronic vote”
“Nobody understands that a president condemned in first instance can choose his successor, underlines Florian Grill.
If the yes wins, we will be respectful of the clubs' decision but if it is the no, it will be up to the FFR management committee to be respectful in turn of the best interests of rugby and above all to be responsible.
It will have to organize general elections.
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And go quickly to avoid too much confusion as the World Cup approaches.
“It's entirely possible in just six weeks,” says Grill.
Next Friday, to ratify the results, there will be a steering committee to which the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra has invited herself.
If the no wins, no one would understand that the steering committee is proposing another candidate and a new vote the following month.
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The referendum therefore promises to be decisive.
If so, the management team will remain in place until 2024, or 2025 if the next elections are postponed due to the organization of the Paris Olympic Games (July 26 – August 11, 2024).
If not, it will however be very difficult for him to resist the combined pressure of the ministry and the opposition.
“We are very confident because we have the return of our relays within the clubs, adds Florian Grill.
But we are worried about the security of this electronic vote.
We have no guarantees at this time.
We want full transparency.
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