On Friday, July 4, 2025, the French anti-corruption association Anticor filed a complaint against several sports club presidents. The complaint primarily concerns allegations of corruption and money laundering within the sports sector.
According to available information, Anticor — a French non-governmental organization working to combat corruption — filed the complaint against club presidents as well as other individuals connected to the sports world, accusing them of corruption, money laundering, conflict of interest, and abuse of power.
The association called for a judicial investigation into these alleged crimes and for those involved to be held accountable.
In its complaint, Anticor highlighted the widespread nature of corruption in the sports sector, stressing the importance of fighting corruption in this field.
Among the prominent figures accused by the association are Vincent Labrune, president of the French Professional Football League (LFP), and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The complaint also names several other French club presidents, including Jean-Pierre Caillot (Reims), Olivier Sadran (formerly Toulouse), Laurent Nicollin (Montpellier), Loïc Féry (Lorient), Waldemar Kita (Nantes), Jean-Pierre Rivère (Nice), and Bernard Caïazzo (formerly Saint-Étienne). Also mentioned is Karl Olive, a Member of Parliament for Yvelines and former mayor of Poissy.
The association emphasized in its complaint that the financial resources of French football are being manipulated and diverted to serve the private interests of foreign states.
According to the details of the complaint, the aforementioned club officials are accused of multiple serious offenses, including:
- “Organized collective fraud committed by a person entrusted with a public service mission”
- “Membership in an organized criminal gang”
- “Extortion under unlawful coercion”
- “Unlawful acquisition of interests”
- “Money laundering by an organized group”
- “Tax evasion”
- “Breach of trust and embezzlement of public funds”
- “Violation of sports law”
The complaint also raised questions regarding Vincent Labrune’s election in 2020, when Michel Denisot was initially considered the frontrunner. Labrune was re-elected in 2024 against Cyril Linette, and is suspected of having influenced Ligue 1 clubs to appoint and secure the position for the former president of Olympique de Marseille.
It is important to note that investigations are currently ongoing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the accusations made against the individuals named.
As a reminder, in February 2024, the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) launched an investigation into the “misappropriation of public funds” related to the creation of the LFP’s commercial subsidiary. A prior complaint had also been filed in November 2023 by Anticor. On November 5, 2024, a search was carried out at the headquarters of the Professional Football League. A few weeks later, a Senate investigative committee also began examining the matter.
Accusations and complaints continue to mount against France’s sports sector, the latest being the complaint filed this week — specifically on Friday, July 4, 2025 — by the anti-corruption association, as investigations continue into the series of allegations made against the club presidents and other figures involved in the sports industry.
