The World Cup, scheduled in France from September 8 to October 28 and which must begin with an XXL shock between the Blues and the All Blacks, will it take place with or without Atcher?

At the end of June, an investigation by the Labor Inspectorate was launched after an article in the sports daily L'Equipe detailing a "deep social malaise" within the GIP (Public Interest Group) France-2023, the institution in charge. of the World Cup organization headed by Atcher.

In question, according to a report by the GIP ethics committee, "alarming managerial practices altering the functioning of the structure" and "the state of suffering of a certain number of collaborators".

The Ministry of Sports has therefore decided to lay off Claude Atcher "as a precaution with immediate effect, for the time necessary to close the investigation currently being carried out by the labor inspectorate".

As a result, Atcher "will no longer be present or active, directly or indirectly, within, in the name and on behalf of the GIP throughout the period of the conservatory layoff", indicates the press release from the Ministry of Sports.

He will be temporarily replaced in his functions by the deputy director general of the GIP, Julien Collette.

This decision was taken in concert with the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), the two other shareholders of the organizing committee of the Mondial-2023.

A second open investigation and trial

World Rugby, the governing body of world rugby, told AFP that it "fully endorses the conclusions and the action plan communicated by the French Ministry of Sports today on the subject of the social climate within the committee of organization France-2023".

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"World Rugby is deeply concerned by the allegations presented in the French media. The wellbeing of the rugby family is paramount and central to the values ​​of unity, inclusion and togetherness that embody the World Cup," added World Rugby, assuring its desire to "continue to provide its support and expertise to the France-2023 Organizing Committee in order to deliver together an exceptional Rugby World Cup in France".

In addition, adds the press release from the Ministry of Sports, a second investigation has been opened: "a joint mission of the General Inspectorate of Finance and the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research has been triggered by the State to, on the one hand, analyze the existence of possible breaches of economic and financial probity or conflicts of interest and, on the other hand, to support the GIP in the organization of some of its strategic programs ".

The former third line will also be judged from September 7 with the president of the FFR Bernard Laporte and the boss of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad in the context of suspicions of favoritism around the sponsorship of the XV of France.

He will appear for "concealment of breach of trust", "abuse of corporate assets" and "concealed work by concealment of activity".

A little over a year from the kick-off, the Mondial-2023 is faltering.

© 2022 AFP