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2023 Rugby World Cup HQ raided by French financial prosecutors
By AAP
French financial prosecutors have raided the headquarters of the 2023 Rugby World Cup organising committee as part of an investigation into possible management irregularities. Organisers said the searches took place after the French government asked this summer for an audit by the country's top financial watchdog into possible wrongdoing at the committee, which was then headed by Claude Atcher.
The chief executive was fired last month following a separate investigation by French labour inspectors into his workplace conduct. French financial prosecutors said they opened a preliminary investigation last month into charges of “favouritism, influence peddling, corruption and any other related offence relating to the management" of the organising committee.
The prosecutor's office confirmed the raid at the headquarters in Paris and added that searches took place at other locations. France 2023 said in a statement that the Rugby World Cup searches were "a continuation of the mission of the General Inspectorate of Finances, mandated this summer by the government to verify the management of the organising committee's entities".
The committee said it would not make further comments. The World Cup starts in ten months in Paris.
In a separate corruption case also involving French Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte, prosecutors have requested a two-year sentence, including one year in jail, for Atcher. He has been accused of embezzling tens of thousands of euros from the federation by using his close bond with Laporte.
A verdict is expected on December 13, with Laporte also facing the prospect of time in prison. The organising committee's board of directors has appointed Julien Collette - Atcher's former deputy general director - as a replacement.
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Latest Comments
Nope you played Scotland first, then Ireland a few weeks later, then France a few weeks later and then SF and Final. Not consecutive.
The only people moaning on this site are Saffers about their lost rankings status.
World Rugby have agreed to change the rules so this isnt about moaning its about ensuring a fair tournament? Do Saffers have an issue with this?
You had to play France/England/NZ because you were not good enough to beat Ireland. You could have had potentially the easier semi against Argentina if you had beaten Ireland. You were not able. Ireland were better.
SA had a hard schedule but it wasnt even the second hardest or third hardest in your pool. Ireland and Scotland had to play eachother 6 days before the QF. IF SA have to play a top 5 match and then play France 6 days later: you lose, no ifs no buts.
Ireland have said nothing about this. You can bet if NZ/SA had been eliminated at the quarter the howling and complaining would be heard in space.
You have some neck talking about moaning when you and your countrymen have been moaning incessently about losing your ranking.
Did you see PSTD and others surround the ref in Durban with a massive moan fest trying to cheat their way to a win? Wind your neck in.
Go to commentsAs for crediting McKenzie as a match hero, when he blew 3 tries is ridiculous. Richie Mo'unga was a brilliant match winner and yet never got the patience given Damo. Thankfully Richie Mo'unga will be back from Japan, his 15/10 combo with Will Jordan is deadly. Foster barely used it, Beauden is only an impact player now.
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