“We bet that we will find a buyer, it’s as stupid as that”: the finances of the ASBH electrify the municipal council of Béziers

This Monday evening, discussions were heated around the ASBH. Midi Libre – Mélissa Alcoléa

This Monday evening, February 5, the elected representatives of the municipal council of Béziers voted for the postponement of a reimbursement of 400,000 € that the ASBH, the rugby club in full sporting ascendancy, was to perform in the City. Robert Ménard admitted the need to find a buyer. 

"What is the SCIC's economic model ? How do they plan to repay in 2 years ?" Do they have a project for this ?" This Monday, February 5 in the evening, in the council room, in the Béziers town hall, the B' elected environmentalist Thierry Antoine ignites the debate around the finances of the ASBH. 

As a reminder, the City of Béziers agreed, in October 2021, to the payment of an advance of '400,000 € to the Cooperative Society of Collective Interest "Béziers Sport Développement", that is to say the majority company in the capital of the Béziers rugby club. An advance which was to be repaid no later than 2 years, i.e. in October 2023. However, the SCIC requested a postponement of this deadline for an additional 2 years. Which was validated in council, not without lively discussions beforehand…

"The public returned to the stadium because'we made this decision in this room" 

"The SCIC has 79% of the capital of the SASP (the owners of the club). We needed this structure while waiting for a buyer", recalled Robert Ménard, emphasizing the proactive role of the municipality in preserving certain structures, like the Galeries Lafayette, Clareton and ASBH. "I find it wonderful, incredible that he was saved. And to prove that in a medium-sized town like Béziers, we can have a professional team. The public returned to the stadium because in this room, we made this decision!"  

"The city does not have the economic power to finance the club"

"But the reality is that the city does not have the economic power to finance the club"< /em>, retorted Thierry Antoine. Losing his composure, the chief magistrate of Béziers then reproached his opponent for his successive votes on the ASBH file. "What a traitor to this club!", he lost his temper, before regretting it a few minutes later and ask "forgiveness".