In a letter sent this Tuesday to the members of the Superior Council of Tennis, made up of thirty-two members elected by the General Assembly of the Federation, the strong man of the FFT provides a formal denial: "These attacks were relayed by
several media, accusing me in somewhat extreme terms
– “social tsunami”, “republic of terror”… –
to act with brutality, in contempt of labor law and social dialogue, and to practice clientelism contrary to the values we advocate.
I strongly deny these accusations.
These reflect a profound ignorance not only of the facts, but also of the way in which the FFT works, and a desire to harm our Federation.
I would like to reaffirm it forcefully: our organization acts, in all circumstances, in full respect of the law and labor law, with respect for people and in coherence with the values of sport, which are dear to us.
I assume to be a demanding president.
I have often said it: benevolence excludes neither requirement nor rigour.
»
Mediapart and RMC Sport had thus collected anonymous testimonies describing a
“toxic
” atmosphere and a “
permanent malaise
” within the French tennis body.
An employee believing to be "
the target of the day, the one who must be shot
".
Common point of the two surveys: the worrying number of departures within the FFT.
RMC Sports
thus counting 130 departures (112 for Mediapart) out of more than 400 employees since the arrival at the presidency of Gilles Moretton two years ago for certain employees.
The methods would have been brutal, according to the surveys with sudden internet cuts to tell employees that they were no longer wanted, but also a management that would have caused several burnouts.
These numerous dismissals would have been accompanied by colossal checks to avoid legal attacks for unfair dismissal.
Executives of the FFT relate describing in particular, "a
president who refuses any debate after his interventions
", at the Superior Council of Tennis, body in principle of control and vigilance on federal policy.
Read alsoTennis: “toxic” atmosphere within the FFT according to two surveys
And Gilles Moretton to ensure in his letter addressed to the members of the Superior Council of Tennis, to have carried out a counter-investigation: "
As for the accusations made, on the subject of which the Social and Economic Committee
(CSE) -
body representing the staff - exercised its right to alert, we decided, at its request, to launch a joint investigation in order to establish the facts – the only option that could be retained.
"And the results of this counter-investigation would be very far from the revelations of
RMC
and Mediapart...
"
After hearing all the people concerned by the alleged facts, the investigators issued unambiguous conclusions on February 23, refuting the accusations made.
If the management style is
"frank and direct, and based on the culture of feedback",
no
"situation of moral harassment",
no
"attack on the rights of individuals, their physical and mental health and safety"
has been put to the day by the investigators towards the employees who alerted the CSE, nor “more generally towards the employees of the FFT.
In the absence of any substance, I am truly confident that we will soon be able to turn the page on these so-called
"scandals".
created from scratch by a few in search of politics and sensationalism making an amalgamation with other sports federations
”.