'I do not want to do paranoia but I was very annoyed after this salary cap story'
Racing owner Jacky Lorenzetti believes there has been a negative attitude constantly shown towards his club by the French League ever since they made their way out of Pro D2 and into the Top 14 in 2009.
An investigation into alleged irregularities in the salary cap during the 2017/18 season is the latest negativity that the Parisian club has had to deal, a review that also includes Montpellier and Toulon.
Racing claim they complied with everything that was asked of them, leaving Lorenzetti frustrated that a brand-damaging story was allowed to filter out into the public domain.
In an in-depth interview with Midi Olympique, the bi-weekly French rugby newspaper, the club owner hit back at what he feels is a system that frequently looks upon Racing with a dismissive view.
“Racing was not pinned neither for irregularities nor for anything. Since the salary cap manager is in place, we have always met the standards imposed,” he insisted.
Galthié prend la main en UNE de Midi Olympique.
Télécharger l'édition numérique > https://t.co/NqCqgpm7y1 pic.twitter.com/s4Ui9xzKCh— Midi Olympique (@midi_olympique) July 25, 2019
“The salary cap manager simply taxes us for having been in bad faith when we submit certain documents to the file. He considers that we did not do it on time. It’s that simple.
“They [those documents] focused on the vehicles and accommodations made available by the club. The information was given… we were a little annoyed by what we consider fierce against the Racing entity on the part of the system.
“We are a Parisian club, we are supposed to be rich, we have all the faults of the land… I remember that Racing had already been the object of ostracism, there is no other word, when the club rose out of the second division.
🏋️♂️ Les matchs commencent ici…#RacingFamily pic.twitter.com/5r3M08HrKx
— Racing 92 (@racing92) July 23, 2019
“Suddenly, the league decided that there would be no more climbing bonus. We still talk about €350,000, it’s not nothing!
“Later, Laurent Labit has twice fine €50,000 euros for inappropriate remarks. Ronan O’Gara? He also received a penalty of €30,000. And in the appeal commission of the FFR, we never had a reduction of a sentence!
“I do not want to do paranoia but I was very annoyed after this salary cap story. Without dragging their feet, we took a long time to gather the pieces and send them in a time that is considered reasonable. We answered the questions, we played the game, we will now see what the verdict is.”
Racing, who won the French title in 2016, were knocked out in the quarter-finals last season at home to La Rochelle, but it’s a disappointment Lorenzetti hasn’t dwelt too long on.
“Last season was disappointing but Racing is the only club in the championship that has never left the wagon of the six qualifiers since our rise in Top 14 in 2009. Every year, we are in the finals. Clermont did not do it, Toulouse did not do it, Toulon did not do it. And how long has Stade Francais been running behind the qualifiers?
“Victory, titles, is our adrenaline. We are not at Racing to play rugby. We are at Racing to win. The problem is that the other 13 clubs in the Top 14 have exactly the same ambition.”
Évolution du jeu vers un jeu plus sûr et de mouvement, formation, fréquentation des stades, engouement populaire…voilà pourquoi je suis optimiste https://t.co/zwyJT7ScYN
— Paul Goze (@PaulGoze) June 26, 2019
Rugby has always been about the sport for Lorenzetti, not making money, an approach that found him at odds when he recently met some key figures of the new Major League Rugby concept in America.
“I came to the sport for sport. I’m not here for business. Recently, I visited the leaders of American rugby. During the conversation, I talked to them about sport and they said to me: ‘No, we talk business, Mr Lorenzetti! We are here to make money!’
“It’s not my thing. I’m an entrepreneur. I make my living making real estate, wine and now concerts. Sport is not about making money and if rugby gets there one day, I do not know if it will always interest me. I can’t imagine, for example, a closed league that would leave Grenoble or Biarritz at the door. I do not want anyone to forbid Béziers, Narbonne and Perpignan to dream.
“Our championship is exceptional, unheard: 10 teams fight each year for the title! Where do we see that? In football, the suspense is cooked after three days.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments