It was a momentous moment for Medhi Narjissi’s family. The French Rugby Federation was indicted on Friday for manslaughter after the disappearance at sea in 2024 of Medhi Narjissi, training with the French under-18 team in South Africa, announced the FFR lawyer.
“We take note of the decision to indict the FFR as a legal entity. This is an intermediate step in the procedure which in no way constitutes a declaration of guilt,” reacted Me Mathias Chichportich, the Federation’s lawyer in a statement sent to the media, deeming the decision “questionable in law”.
A “serious fault” but “in no way attributable to the Federation”, according to his lawyer
“The decision to have organized a recovery bath in a place dangerous for swimming is a serious mistake but it is in no way attributable to the Federation,” continues the lawyer. It is all the more incomprehensible as it was neither planned, nor authorized, nor validated. »
“If it is legitimate that the suffering of the Narjissi family led them to crystallize their anger against the institution, the criminal liability of the FFR cannot be engaged. This decision is therefore questionable in law. The FFR will continue, as it has done from the beginning, to cooperate fully with the justice system, while respecting the procedure,” the lawyer finally concludes.
Medhi Narjissi was swept away by the waves on August 7, 2024 during a training course for the French under-18 team in South Africa, during a recovery session organized on a beach known to be dangerous near the Cape of Good Hope. His body has not been found.
The physical trainer of the French team staff Robin Ladauge was dismissed from the civil service in August 2025 and the former manager Stéphane Cambos was suspended for two years, one of which is closed. The two men had previously been indicted for manslaughter by the Agen court.