The French National Olympic and Sports Committee has refused to validate the results of the French Karate Federation presidential election, citing concerns over fairness and neutrality. The decision follows a formal request from lawyer Me Hugo Delage, representing the election challengers, which led to a hearing on February 11, 2024, at CNOSF headquarters in Paris.
The FFKDA presidential race, held from December 5 to 12, saw Gilles Cherdieu, a revered figure in French karate, face Bruno Verfaillie, head of the federation’s refereeing commission. In a tightly contested election, Cherdieu narrowly lost. However, allegations of bias in the election process quickly emerged, prompting scrutiny of the federation’s role in the campaign.
According to the CNOSF report, the FFKDA failed to uphold electoral neutrality. One of the key concerns was the use of the federation’s official magazine, which had been inactive for two years but was suddenly revived in January 2024—just in time for the election. The report highlights how the publication heavily promoted Verfaillie’s campaign while completely ignoring his opponent, offering no coverage of Cherdieu whatsoever.
Further fueling concerns were photos showing stacks of Verfaillie’s campaign brochures being delivered to the FFKDA headquarters. The CNOSF confirmed the authenticity of these images, reinforcing accusations that the federation had actively supported one candidate over the other.
The photo on the right shows Philippe Dherbecourt, the Secretary General of the National Federation, holding Verfaillie’s brochure, while the photo on the left shows these brochures being delivered to the headquarters of the National Federation
Adding to the controversy, Francis Didier, the outgoing FFKDA president, publicly endorsed Verfaillie in an interview published in the same magazine on November 28, 2024—while Verfaillie was still a candidate. Didier’s statement that Verfaillie was “well-positioned” to continue the federation’s policies raised questions about whether the election had been predetermined.
VERFAILLIE AND DIDIER
At the time, new regulations from the French Ministry of Sports barred Didier from seeking another term. However, Verfaillie had indicated during his campaign that Didier would remain involved in an advisory role, suggesting a coordinated effort to maintain Didier’s influence within the federation.
The flaws in FFKDA’s election process reflect broader governance issues within the World Karate Federation. Since 1998, WKF president Antonio Espinós has remained in power without facing any real electoral challenge. This pattern extends to the leadership of the federation’s continental branches, where key figures maintain control for decades.
Under WKF statutes, only members of the executive board can run for the presidency—yet some board members hold their positions without ever being elected. Additionally, the executive board has sole authority to recognize or derecognize national federations, leaving little room for independent governance at the national level.
Didier himself has been a member of the executive board of both the WKF and the European Karate Federation for over two decades. His role in the FFKDA election controversy raises deeper concerns about entrenched power structures and the lack of democratic oversight in karate’s global leadership.
With the CNOSF report now public, it remains unclear whether the FFKDA will face consequences or introduce reforms to ensure fairer elections in the future. The situation in France is not an isolated case but part of a wider pattern of governance issues within the sport. Unless structural changes are implemented at both national and international levels, similar controversies are likely to persist, casting further doubt on the transparency and integrity of karate’s leadership.
