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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