French Sports Minister Marie Barsacq was summoned to the Senate today to answer questions raised by Senator Gilbert-Luc Devinaz concerning serious irregularities within the French National Karate Federation. The inquiry highlighted several key concerns, including suspicions of corruption, the illegal issuance of Dan grades, financial opacity, and the obstruction of internal elections. Devinaz demanded clear answers from the Minister.

Appointed to her role on December 23, 2024, Minister Barsacq, who holds degrees in law and sports, was initially expected to provide broad, non-committal responses. However, in her reply to Senator Devinaz, she acknowledged awareness of significant issues within the FFKDA. Specifically, she confirmed that the election held by the French Karate Federation under the leadership of Francis Didier in December 2024 had failed to be conducted fairly and impartially. She further disclosed that the French National Olympic and Sports Committee did not recognize the election’s legitimacy and had called for a new vote.

Minister Barsacq also revealed that Bruno Verfaillie, the current president of the French Karate Federation, had rejected the idea of holding new elections. She emphasized that should the FFKDA fail to comply with the Ministry’s demands by April 30—demands that remain undisclosed by both the Ministry and the Federation—it risks losing its official national recognition. Should this occur, the FFKDA would no longer be considered a national federation, would lose state endorsement, and would be stripped of public funding.

Part of the Minister’s response also addressed financial misconduct involving the Isère Karate Committee and its regional president, Thierry Lombardi. In 2022, €100,000 was embezzled from the Isère karate. Despite widespread criticism and calls for action, Francis Didier failed to take appropriate steps to investigate the matter.

Senator Gilbert-Luc Devinaz

Karate faces leadership crises

Additionally, Francis Didier, former president of the FFKDA, is under investigation for alleged violent conduct towards Sandrine Barbarin, a senior director within the national federation. The case has been referred for legal investigation, with similar allegations made against Didier by other individuals. In her Senate address, Minister Barsacq stated that she had urged the FFKDA to implement measures to prevent such behavior in the future.

Didier, who served on the Executive Board of the World Karate Federation for nearly two decades, was also appointed to the WKF’s Sport Commission by Antonio Espinos in 2012. He currently holds a position on the Executive Board of the European Karate Federation, which has also been led by Espinos since its inception in 1997. After serving five terms as president of the FFKDA, Didier was not granted permission to continue in the role by the French Minister of Sports. He also supported Bruno Verfaillie in the controversial election held between December 5 and 12.

Following the FFKDA’s failure to adhere to the recommendations of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee which called for the cancellation of the disputed election and the establishment of conditions for a new vote Gilles Cherdieu, a candidate in the election and a nostalgic figure in French karate, has suggested the possibility of filing a lawsuit. It is expected that karate in France will soon enter a new phase, potentially marked by significant legal and organizational developments.