The multiplication of cases of Covid-19 within the XV of France in recent days has pushed the Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, to "request an internal investigation from the Federation".

Invited on Sunday from Europe 1, she notably felt that the health bubble put in place to allow the holding of the Six Nations Tournament was not respected.

INTERVIEW

The minister is waiting for an explanation.

Roxana Maracineanu, Minister of Sports, asked the French Rugby Federation on Friday to explain itself in the face of the multiplication in recent days of cases of Covid-19 within the XV of France.

The identification of 17 cases, among the players and the staff, despite the establishment of a strict health protocol resulted in the cancellation of the France-Scotland match initially scheduled for Sunday.

From now on, the minister is threatening to withdraw from the federation its authorization to participate in the Six Nations Tournament.

"I requested an internal investigation from the Federation so that we can have written explanations from them," explains Roxana Maracineanu, guest on Sunday in Europe Morning.

"We need to understand what happened since the government's crisis center has validated strict health protocols. This is why my ministry authorized the holding of the Six Nations Tournament," she recalls . 

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"It would appear that there were breaches"

"We must have the explanations in detail. From what I have heard and read in various newspapers, it seems that there have been shortcomings", notes the minister while Fabien Galthié, the coach of the XV of France, itself tested positive for Covid-19, is suspected of having broken the health bubble in place.

"Players and staff must stay together at all times, must not go too far outside this bubble or in any case, when they do, have tests on their return," said the former swimming champion.

"We want to understand. Who made this virus fit in the bubble? And then, how did it spread to end up infecting about fifteen athletes and staff members?" She asks.

The Minister asks the federation to exercise its "disciplinary power"

Could it take sanctions against certain members of the Federation or the XV of France if it was proven that there was a breach?

"It is the Federation which has disciplinary power, so I expect it to exercise it too. For my part, I only authorized the holding of this competition and, ultimately, it is the only lever I have ", concludes Roxana Maracineanu.