“A shortfall of almost 2 million euros per match”: deprived of the Stade de France, the FFR intends to be compensated by Paris 2024

Les Bleus ne pourront pas jouer au Stade de France lors du prochain Tournoi. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Alors qu'elle ne pourra pas utiliser le Stade de France lors du prochain Tournoi des 6 Nations 2024 en raison des Jeux Olympiques de Paris 2024, la Fédération française s'est tournée vers le Cojop pour être indemnisée. 

If the supporters of the French XV living in Lille, Lyon and Marseille are certainly happy to be able to see the Blues during the next 6 Nations Tournament 2024, this remains a big shortfall for the French Rugby Federation. nbsp;

Forced to play outside the Stade de France due to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the work to be carried out, the FFR estimates the shortfall at several million euros due to these relocations. 

"It's a shortfall of almost 2 million euros per match on the two big posters of Ireland and #39 ;England", informs Claude Helias, the General Treasurer on the FFR website.

Après l’Assemblée Générale Financière, Claude Helias, Trésorier Général de la FFR, est revenu sur l’année 2023 tout en donnant les clés pour 2024.

Entretien 🔽https://t.co/3DDh0PmIaa

— France Rugby (@FranceRugby) December 29, 2023

A request for compensation from Cojop

But the French rugby body hopes to receive compensation, as Helias announced.

"We made a request for compensation from the Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games since we cannot play at the Stade de France because of the work. It was therefore to them that we turned to start discussions, he says.

A deficit of 40 million euros in the FFR coffers

Even if the XV of France will fill the Stade Vélodrome to the brim on February 2 against Ireland, that of Lille for the meeting against the Italians on February 25 then the stadium of Lyon for the crunch against England on March 16, the FFR is still in a bad financial situation.

Mid-December, it actually announced that it was suffering from an operating deficit of 40 million euros over the last two seasons. 

"The situation gives us a little time, two more exercises to be able to rectify the situation and change the trajectory, explains Helias again. It will take at least that, in my opinion, to find profitable exercises. Initially, we will first seek to return to balance, then we will seek profits to finance the planned investments."