The French Rugby Federation (FFR) takes legal action over its future complex in Pantin, initiated under Laporte

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has reported to the courts the conditions of the award of its sports and administrative center project in Pantin, carried out under the presidency of Bernard Laporte, the body told AFP on Tuesday October 28, confirming information from Le Canard enchaîné.

In 2019, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) selected the construction company NGE to build the Rugby Innovation Centre around the Raoul-Montbrand stadium in Pantin. The foundation stone was laid in 2023 and the inauguration is scheduled for early 2026.

"The French Rugby Federation (FFR) confirms that it has filed a complaint under Article 40 following a careful examination of the Montbrand project in Pantin," it responded in a message to AFP, specifying that it had "contacted the public prosecutor so that the full truth can be revealed about this operation." Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure requires any authority to refer a crime or offense to the courts.

This includes, in particular, "non-compliance with FFR procurement procedures" and "failure to comply with FFR validation procedures", but also "the absence of supporting documents stipulated in contracts with builders" and "uncertainty about the number of square meters delivered compared to the square meters billed".

The project includes three rugby pitches, a 5.134 square meter sports centre, accommodation for the FFR development academy and offices for the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental rugby committee.

The current president of the FFR, Florian Grill, is a long-time opponent of this project, the occupancy agreement for which was signed with the Seine-Saint-Denis department a few weeks before he took over the federation following the forced departure of Bernard Laporte.

Former French national rugby team coach Bernard Laporte was elected president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) in December 2016 and forced to resign in January 2023 after being found guilty by the Paris Criminal Court of entering into a corruption pact with Mohed Altrad, president of the Montpellier rugby club. The appeal trial is scheduled to take place from September 9 to 25, 2026.

Florian Grill estimated in July 2025 that the Montbrand project would cost 31 million euros, for which the Federation had to take on debt while already being in a critical financial situation.

"The project will have a significant and lasting impact on the federation's finances," the Court of Auditors stated in a preliminary report critical of the FFR's financial management, as reported by Le Canard enchaîné.