French Tennis Federation (FFT) President Jean Gachassin has been “implicated in a report submitted to the head of state,” according to L’ÉQUIPE. Everything stems from an anonymous letter with the heading, “To the attention of the ministers,” sent in May ’15. The letter “describes abuses” within the FFT, specifically naming Gachassin. The accusations were “deemed important enough that an investigation was initiated.” French newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné has revealed the first leaked information concerning the investigation. The investigation shows several abuses including the “particularly high expenses” of Gachassin, such as “two company cars,” one “at his home in Bagnères-de-Bigorre” and another “service car with a chauffeur, in Paris.” Gachassin’s monthly salary is €7,000 ($7,600) per month. The investigators also went after Gachassin for “suspicious ticket sales” for the Roland-Garros. The president, who will not seek reelection next year, gave 600 VIP tickets to a French travel agency which then did “business for his (Gachassin’s) personal accounts.” Gachassin’s lawyer said, “This is an old story. It’s from five years ago” (L’ÉQUIPE, 1/27). LE PARISIEN reported a “circle of leaders, elected and paid by the FFT,” knew about the abuses but, “by mutual agreement,” it was decided not to say anything in order “to conceal the actions in the interest of the federation.” Gachassin said, “I have a clear conscious.” While at the Australian Open, he assured that his cabinet “accounts for all of the seats for the Roland-Garros, it has the names of all of the people I’ve sold seats to” (LE PARISIEN, 1/27).
