In addition to a first investigation opened for influence peddling and corruption, the former director general of the public interest group (GIP) France-2023 Claude Atcher, laid off this summer then landed in October by the board of administration, is the subject of another investigation for moral harassment, revealed this week the daily L'Équipe.
"These are events that are a little behind us today. It only confirmed that the decisions that were taken this summer are the right ones", reacted the president of the GIP Jacques Rivoal, questioned on Saturday by the AFP on the sidelines of a promotional event in Saint-Denis, in reference to the dismissal of Atcher.
"We weren't affected at all by the news which was indeed a bit choppy. The two best signs are that the tickets sold very well and that all the sponsors came on board and stuck with us. Today 'today, we are completely on track to achieve what is going to be a very big popular party," he said.
In a long article titled "Peril on the finances of the World Cup", L'Équipe also mentioned Thursday "poor budgetary management", "suspicions of favoritism" and "embezzlement of public funds", partly attributed to Claude Atcher.
At the time of the launch of the application, Atcher had claimed to be able to make 200 million euros in potential profits.
A few years later, according to the calculations of L'Équipe, it would be five times less, or around 40 million euros.
Following the departure of its managing director, who denounces "judicial and media relentlessness" against him, the board of directors of the GIP will examine on February 2 the results of a budget review integrating a "global vision", indicated Rivoal .
"For the first time, we have done a job of transparency to present a completely consolidated result. What I can tell you (...) is that we will be able to present a result that will be at the level of the best benchmarks in the history of the World Cups", declared the president of the GIP.
Organized in ten French cities from September 8 to October 28, the Rugby World Cup will begin with a clash between the All Blacks and the Blues of Fabien Galthié.
© 2023 AFP