The headquarters of the 2023 Rugby World Cup was raided by French financial prosecutors over allegations of corruption.
The searches took place after the French government asked this summer for an audit by France’s top financial watchdog into possible wrongdoing at the committee, which was then headed by Claude Atcher.
The National Finance Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) said it had opened a preliminary investigation last month.
PNF said the inquiry was looking into allegations of “favouritism, influence peddling, and corruption”.
“It follows a joint report from the Inspectorate General of Finance and the Inspectorate General of Education, Sport and Research,” it said.
Atcher was fired last month following a separate investigation by French labour inspectors into his workplace conduct.
Atcher’s deputy Julien Collette took over from him as chief executive.
France 2023 said in a statement that the 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 organizing committee’s entities.” The committee said it would not make further comments.
The men’s Rugby World Cup is scheduled to take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023 in nine venues across the country.
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.
