The recent upheaval in France’s National Karate Federation paints a picture of turbulence and discontent. Francis Didier, president of the federation since 2001, finds himself barred from running for re-election in December, following a directive from France’s sports ministry.
Francisco Martinez, a World Karate Federation referee and former board member of the French Karate Federation (FFKDA), recently reached out to Sportsin with insights into these developments. Martinez, once a prominent figure within the Rhône-Alpes Zone karate league, referenced Parliamentary Investigation Report No. 2012, which validated numerous complaints against Didier’s leadership. His emails document what he describes as a systematic silencing of Didier’s critics within the federation.
Given the gravity of this information, I reached out to Martinez for a deeper perspective, hoping to provide our French karate followers with a clear and unfiltered view. This interview is significant, as Didier’s two-decade-long influence has extended to both European and world karate, shaping policies that resonate widely within the sport.
MARTINEZ ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FFKDA
“Since 2001, Didier has led the FFK,” Martinez began. “In his early terms, he focused on modernizing the federation. But over time, he built a system that excluded dissenting voices and obscured his own legal issues, leading to widespread misconduct. Recently, Didier awarded numerous high-level Dan grades—6th through 10th—without exams or review boards, seemingly to secure support for Bruno Verfaillie in the upcoming election.”
Francisco Martinez, a World Karate Federation (WKF) referee and former board member of the French Karate Federation (FFKDA)
A DEEP RIFT WITH THE FEDERATION
When asked about his distance from the federation, Martinez recounted a contentious history: “In 2019, as President of the AURA League and a board member of the Federation, I uncovered financial misconduct within both the Federation and the Rhône-Alpes Zone (ZID), where Abdel Achache was president. Achache, who also serves as Lyon’s Deputy Mayor and President of the Lyon Sports Organization (OMS), shared a treasurer with us, Mohamed Benzaoui. Benzaoui was caught issuing fake invoices and embezzling €15,000 from the League and €260,000 from the ZID. Following our complaint, Benzaoui received a four-year prison sentence, which he is appealing.”
Martinez added a troubling interaction with Didier: “He called me to his office, visibly under the influence of a white powder, and demanded my resignation. When I refused, he jabbed me in the chest and threatened, ‘If you don’t resign, I will ruin you… You’re dead anyway.'”
Martinez’s emails reveal further instances of mismanagement within the Federation. However, due to legal sensitivities, I’ve opted to exclude those details here. According to Martinez, the Federation has revenue exceeding €10 million, largely sourced from government funding and Dan-grade diploma fees.
MINISTERIAL REPORT AND ELECTION
Regarding the anticipated 420-page report from Ouest-France and AFP, Martinez explained:
“In mid-December 2016, Thierry Braillard, then Secretary of State for Sports, ordered an inspection into alleged misconduct within the FFK. On November 9, former officials called for the report to address governance issues within the Federation. With the December 17 election looming, there was doubt about whether the investigation could conclude in time, where Didier sought a fifth term.”
Martinez then shared more about Didier’s tactics:
“Two of Didier’s main rivals and presidential candidates, Thierry Cousinié and Jean-Marc Boucher, now face disciplinary action and may be declared ineligible ahead of the election. Didier’s opponents accuse him of misusing Federation funds to cover personal expenses or finance unearned diploma awards. Didier has dismissed these accusations as baseless and defamatory, branding them ‘old grievances from former officials who lost or were removed.'”
In a further blow to the Federation, National Technical Director Corinne Navarro recently announced her resignation, citing an “overly political environment.”
MARTINEZ TAKE ON THE UPCOMING ELECTION
When asked for his assessment, Martinez stated: “The sports ministry has barred Didier from running for FFK president due to term limits. While he can still run for the Board of Directors—a volunteer role—he is eyeing a paid ‘consultant’ position under Verfaillie’s potential presidency. Gilles Cherdieu’s candidacy offers the best hope for uniting FFKDA members, many of whom feel neglected in areas of martial arts values and karate’s moral core. I hope undecided voters in December 2024 see the true nature of his opponents.”
ON KARATE’S EXCLUSION FROM THE OLYMPIC
Given Martinez’s role as a WKF referee and his deep connection to French karate, I asked him about karate’s exclusion from the Paris Olympics and who he believes is accountable. His response was striking:
“Contrary to popular belief, Mr. Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, isn’t responsible. The International Olympic Committee repeatedly voiced concerns to officials from the FFK, EKF, and WKF regarding a lack of transparency and democratic processes within these organizations.”
Martinez places the responsibility squarely on Francis Didier and Antonio Espinós, President of both the EKF and WKF. “Both men have held power for over two decades,” he concluded.
NOTE: Emails from Francisco Martinez will remain confidential in Sportsin records. Furthermore, all individuals and entities mentioned by Mr. Martinez are welcome to provide responses or clarifications on Sportsin, allowing them the opportunity to address any concerns raised.
