Elections to departmental committees and regional leagues are the subject of appeals between candidates. Decisive in the run-up to the FFT presidency in a month’s time
Appeals even before the ballot! In the departmental committees and regional leagues, nothing is going well between supporters of the outgoing president of the French Tennis Federation Gilles Moretton and those of his challenger Germain Roesch. In several territories, Roesch’s supporters saw their candidacy challenged by Moretton’s supporters for the same reason… the absence of a sentence – the same one! in their profession of faith.
“The filing of a list is admissible only if it is accompanied by a profession of faith in which the list undertakes, in particular, to implement federal policy (…)”, according to article 45 of the FFT, an article recently added to the regulations…
Judicial parade
“I didn’t think such maneuvers were possible in tennis! We didn’t write that sentence but something synonymous!” exclaims Jérémy Chardy. Germain Roesch’s support for the FFT presidency, Ugo Humbert’s coach –finalist at the last Masters 1000 in Bercy– is Nicolas Winograd’s running mate for the presidency of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departmental tennis committee. The latter had to defend himself last week before the FFT’s Federal Disputes Commission, and is awaiting its decision… just 48 hours before the vote due to be held this weekend. “That doesn’t leave much time to turn around, but we’re working on a legal response, just in case, promises Alain Moreau, President of the Ligue Nouvelle-Aquitaine and also a supporter of Germain Roesch.
Patrice Brulez, outgoing president of the Hauts-de-France League for the past seven years, is also the subject of an appeal, on the same grounds, before this Commission. Interviewed last Tuesday, he too is awaiting the federal verdict, one week before the election. “When I received my summons, to say I fell off my chair would be an understatement. The summons was sent 24 hours before the Litigation Commission meeting. That gives you plenty of time to prepare your defense, he ironizes.
The reason for the appeal is ridiculous.
Patrice Brulez, outgoing president of the Hauts-de-France League
“This disputes commission was set up by the FFT General Assembly, which means it was set up by supporters of the current president. It has no independence, point out the two presidents from Aquitaine and Nord. “The reason for the appeal is all the more ridiculous in that a League or Departmental Committee is statutorily required to apply federal policy, failing which it is liable to financial sanctions. What’s the point of having to write it as such in one’s profession of faith? asks Patrice Brulez.
What could pass for an unimportant quarrel turns out to be of the utmost importance, given that the departmental committees, like the regional leagues, have 50% of the votes, alongside the clubs, for the election to the presidency of the FFT to be held in December.
“Losing an election all right… but fair and square!” pleads Jérémy Chardy. Last week at Bercy, Ugo Humbert’s coach felt ostracized by the French Tennis Federation. “Because of my candidacy, no one shook my hand, and the decision not to have Ugo play on the Bercy Centre Court had something to do with it, tackles the man who also organizes a tournament in Pau.
For their part, Gilles Moretton’s supporters claim that Germain Roesch’s teams are not to be outdone in terms of appeals. In Paris, the Yvelines, the Hauts-de-Seine and the Ile-de-France League, they have attacked Moretton-supporting candidates on the grounds that candidates were on both the regional and departmental lists. “Appeals to enforce legal texts. This is normal! There’s no maneuvering. The proof is that Germain Roesch’s supporters have lodged 4 appeals, whereas we have lodged three.retorts Alexis Gamblat, Gilles Moretton’s campaign co-director.
SEE ALSO – Ligue 1: Adrien Rabiot and Marseille prepare to face AJ Auxerre this Friday evening (20h45)
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