Mourad Boudjellal's response to Florian Grill: “He does not have the stature for his position, if he is not equipped for it, he must stop”

There was no need to provoke Mourad Boujellal, a fan of verbal jousting. MAXPPP – MULLER FRANK

"I think he needs a little economics course, if he wants, I can give him an estimate", &quot ;the day he puts personal money into rugby, we can discuss, "Intellectually, he doesn't read enough books"… Mourad Boudjellal, lit by Grill in an open letter, did not hesitate to say all the bad things he thinks of the president of the French Rugby Federation. 

He started it, and the other answered him. In the open letter he sent this Sunday, January 11 on social networks, Florian Grill, the president of the French Rugby Federation, had the heavy verb towards his predecessor Bernard Laporte, but also the former international Guilhem Guirado and the former president of RC Toulon, Mourad Boudjellal.

If Laporte did not wish to react ("I do not respond to liars and manipulators"), Boudjellal did not fail to take out the darts in his turn. In view of these exchanges, poor in substance and quite childish in form, what emerges is a feeling of unease, of schoolyard squabbles, even as the Federation struggles with a deficit of ;around 40 million euros.  

Mourad Boudjellal, what is your reaction to the letter from Florian Grill, who specifically questioned you in your duties at the RCT ? 

First I would like to reassure Florian Grill: in Toulon, no one is banned from entering the country, he needs to come out with clichés about the south. It's almost insulting to our region. I think that if he didn't come, it was because he was aware that he would have failed. But no one disrespected him. The south of France is not a no man's land.

I did what I could with my money. The day he puts some personal money into training referees like I did, maybe we can both talk. Until now, he has never put a penny into rugby. For the rest, when he talks about a hole, I will explain to him the difference between an investment and an expense. I think he needs a little economics course, if he wants, I can give him a quote. 

What do you think of the general tone of this letter ?

It comes from someone who is trying to use a second-degree humorous tone, but we feel that intellectually, he does not have the sufficient readings to be able to use this method. He is missing a few books to read.

What does the Federation's deficit inspire you, estimated at nearly 40 million euros ?

What worries me is that he seems aware of the results of the audit, that seems very surprising to me. However, he doesn't have the right, which isn't very smart. If he has been taken into confidence, he must not say it, he could even put the minister (Amélie Oudéa-Castéra) in embarrassment. Especially since his supervisory minister has had a few occasions recently to be in embarrassment…   

"If he pulls the pin every time a columnist or journalist scratches him"< /h2>

(He speaks spontaneously) I will tell you one thing about Bernard Laporte. The 6 million euros that Laporte took from professional clubs to give to amateur rugby, he will take them Florian Grill ? The Rif (Reform of training allowances) that Laporte put in place, he will surely keep it. He renewed the Altrad contract, which he had criticized a lot. He realizes that no one offered more, otherwise he would have gone to the highest bidder. The sponsors who come today to the French team are also linked to the results for four years, well they benefit economically. 

So, when we talk about numbers, we have to talk about all the numbers, costs and products. He only talks about costs. He clears himself, but if he wants to talk about a deficit, I will give him the name in his team of guys who have crashed half of the clubs in the Top 14, there are presidents who will recognize themselves in my words.

Florian Grill would not be the man for the job ?

I am not a candidate for the Federation. I'm a columnist on a show, so he has nothing to fear from me. Being at the head of a Federation, for him to respond to opponents is one thing, but if he pulls the pin every time a columnist or a journalist scratches him… He must be armed, because his position is exposed. Some will say good things about it, others bad things, that's part of the game. If he's not equipped for that, he needs to stop.

Florian Grill must take on the stature of the position, which he has not yet taken on. It's going to come, but that's what happens when you're not elected. He's not elected, eh, you know that ? It's Bernard Laporte who is beaten, it's not the same! Over time, he will learn to button his jacket.