Stade Francais' future in doubt

[beige]

Stade Français are once again facing the threat of relegation after it was revealed that the ailing French giants are suing their so-called benefactors for fraud.

Stade Français's future was plunged into further doubt this week after it was announced that the club are suing the Canadian foundation FACEM after they failed to produce the 12million Euros they had promised to invest in the club.

Director Bernard Laporte, formerly also coach of the French national side and then Secretary of State for Sports from 2007-09, had announced with some fanfare earlier this month he had persuaded FACEM to invest the 12million euros which would pay off the club's debt and save it from relegation owing to its parlous finances.

However, a source close to the judicial inquiry confirmed to AFP that Laporte had made a formal complaint on Monday or Tuesday to the under-secretariat of the fraud office.

According to reports in the French press the Canadians had not come up with the money by Monday evening, which precipitated Laporte's complaint.

Stade Français also announced that club president Max Guazzini was taking legal action.

"In both his role as President of Stade Français and on a personal note, he has made a formal complaint against X in Paris for fraud," read a statement from the club.

"In fact, after an enquiry made last weekend, it appeared that the documents and guarantees furnished by the FACEM Corporation, rubber stamped by a major international bank, were false.

"The FACEM Corporation, via the Rugby Developments Society, committed themselves to take a majority shareholding in Stade Français Paris by increasing its capital by 12million Euros.

"It was only at a meeting yesterday (Monday) afternoon, at the headquarters of this bank that Stade Français Paris had confirmation of this fraud in which it is the victim."

The 12million euros would have represented a 66percent stakeholding in the club.

Without that cash injection Stade would face almost certain relegation as they have accumulated debts of 5million euros - mainly because of the failure of the advertising company Sportys.

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...000466,00.html

[travelling_gerry]

Name Position DoB Height Weight Nationality
Hugo Southwell Full-back 14/05/80 1.88m 97kg Scottish
Julien Arias Wing 26/10/83 1.78m 82kg French
Djibril Camara Wing 22/06/89 1.82m 85kg French
Ollie Phillips Wing 09/08/82 1.80m 92kg English
Romain Raine Wing - - - French
Martin Rodriguez Gurruchaga Centre 12/04/85 1.85m 92kg Argentine
Gonzalo Tiesi Centre 24/04/85 1.84m 88kg Argentine
Matthieu Bastareaud Centre 17/09/88 1.83m 111kg French
Guillaume Boussés Centre 12/10.81 1.84m 92kg French
Brian Liebenberg Centre 19/09/79 1.88m 106kg French
Lionel Beauxis Fly-half 24/10/85 1.80m 86kg French
Noel Oelschig Scum-half/fly-half 14/01/79 1.72m 80kg South African
Julien Dupuy Scrum-half 19/12/83 1.80m 82kg French
Mauro Bergamasco Back row 01/05/79 1.85m 98kg Italian
Antoine Burban Back row 22/07/87 1.89m 101kg French
Romain Dibel Back row 29/04/88 - - French
James Haskell Back row 02/04/85 1.93m 111kg English
Juan Manuel Leguizamon Back row 06/06/83 1.90m 100kg Argentine
Sergio Parisse Back row 13/09/83 1.96m 104kg Italian
Pierre Rabadan Back row 03/07/80 1.92m 100kg French
Dan Wright Lock - - - English
Julien Flanquart Lock 09/10/89 2.04m 102kg French
Denis Drodz Lock 12/06/85 2.02m 105kg French
Arnaud Marchois Lock 18/06/83 2.00m 114kg French
Tom Palmer Lock 27/03/79 1.98m 115kg English
Pascal Papé Lock 05/12/80 1.96m 115kg French
Rémy Bonfils Hooker - - - French
Laurent Sempere Hooker 09/07/85 1.80m 99kg French
Dimitri Szarzewski Hooker 26/01/83 1.80m 100kg French
David Attoub Prop 07/06/81 1.83m 109kg French
Rayno Gerber Prop 25/01/81 1.84m 125kg South African
Arthur Joly Prop 20/02/88 1.88m 115kg French
Pedro Ledesma Prop 02/07/85 1.86m 110kg Argentine
Yoann Leprovost Prop 01/01/84 1.82m 102kg French
Rodrigo Roncero Prop 16/02/77 1.7m 113kg Argentine
Rabah Slimani Prop - 1.78m 114kg French
Damian Weber Prop 11/01/86 1.78m 110kg French

[tragic]

I think they should do an inquiry into their jerseys while they're at it.

[welshrugbyfan]

Sign this bloke up

Matthieu Bastareaud Centre 17/09/88 1.83m 111kg French

[James]

It's a shame we can't have two marquees because I completely agree with you WRF, but I kind of feel we are more in need of winger/fullbacks.

Bastareaud would be a proper marquee.

[Sheikh]

There's some awesome names there, but you have to suspect any European, and especially French, players would get picked up elsewhere.

[zimeric]

Sign this bloke up

Matthieu Bastareaud Centre 17/09/88 1.83m 111kg French

isnt this the guy that fell down drunk on the NZ tour and then made up a story that two big maori fellas konked him on the head...?

no thanks...

[welshrugbyfan]

isnt this the guy that fell down drunk on the NZ tour and then made up a story that two big maori fellas konked him on the head...?

no thanks...

and the suicide attempt and ended up being admitted to a psychiatric facility for a bit.

Runs how a centre should run, his defence is great.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szovyk1QUuY"]YouTube - ‪Mathieu Bastareaud Tribute‬‏[/ame]

[Rucking Good]

and what a great name to chant from the stands!!

[mudskipper]

Please ask Vern to employ their cheer girls best ever...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x99...aby-baby_music

[benny]

I WANT HIM !! as per the highlights onthe YouTube link.

[AndyS]

Never mind the players - the more interesting development (possibly through light blue glasses) is that it could put Michael Cheika back on the streets...

[mudskipper]

Never mind the players - the more interesting development (possibly through light blue glasses) is that it could put Michael Cheika back on the streets...

very good point... sack Graham, is that what your saying?

[James]

No Muddy, we don't sack our coaches. We have integrity.

[travelling_gerry]

EWF - never sacked a Coach.