The offices of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) were raided on Tuesday, “as part of the investigation by the Public Prosecutor” into Roland Garros ticket sales, according to L’ÉQUIPE. The office of FFT President Jean Gachassin was reportedly “targeted by investigators.” The raid is part of an investigation that was opened March 19 by the national financial prosecutor, “following suspicions of embezzlement and ticket trafficking at the FFT” (L’ÉQUIPE, 5/3). LE FIGARO reported Gachassin’s lawyer Xavier Autain said, “We have to stop this fantasy. Jean Gachassin, like every leader of the federation, has the right to a certain number of tickets. He wasn’t using them and allowed others to buy them, but to buy them directly. The money went straight to the federation” (LE FIGARO, 5/3).
FFT STATEMENT: Investigators from the judicial police raided the premises of the French Tennis Federation this Tuesday. The teams of the federation, elected officials and employees are collaborating fully with investigators. The French Tennis Federation has no comment to make at this stage of the proceedings (FFT).