Revocation process begins for FFSA

The Sports Ministry has started a process to revoke the accreditation of the French Federation of Motor Sport (FFSA), which could result in the loss of its delegation — the authority to organize French championships — after 15 days of adversarial proceedings. Marina Ferrari, a ministry official, announced the decision in L'Équipe on October 22, 2026, and the ministry confirmed it the next day.

Reasons for the potential revocation

The ministry cited failures in the FFSA's governance, democratic functioning of its bodies, and respect of its obligations. Additionally, the federation’s statutes, which date back to 2018, have not been updated to meet the ministry's requirements, as highlighted in a February 27, 2026, letter that stressed the "urgent" need for compliance.

Impact of losing accreditation

Accreditation is granted to a federation that performs a public service mission and is issued by the minister for eight years, renewable. It requires statutes in line with regulations and a disciplinary code aligned with a model text. The delegation, granted to one accredited federation per discipline for four years, is revoked "by right" if accreditation is withdrawn or not renewed, according to Article R.131-30 of the Sports Code.

Consequences for FFSA

Without a delegation, the FFSA would lose the authority to organize competitions that award national, regional, and departmental titles, conduct selections, and register athletes on high-level lists. It would also lose the right to award the titles of "French Champion" and "French Team." Organizing such events without a delegation could lead to a 7,500 euro fine. A Plan B exists: if no federation holds a delegation in a discipline, a specialized commission under the CNOSF can take over the management of national competitions and title awards, with the minister's approval.

Ministry dismisses concerns

The Sports Ministry has rejected concerns that the revocation would affect subsidies from local authorities or the participation of French drivers in international competitions. However, the federation's ability to organize competitions in France would not be entirely halted, as the practice itself would remain unaffected.

Historical precedent

A similar revocation occurred in 2005 with the French Equestrian Federation (FFE), which lost its accreditation and delegation due to non-compliance with statutory requirements. The FFE lost its 31 technical staff provided by the ministry and about 8% of its budget, but a specialized equestrian commission was established to ensure competitions and high-level sport continued. The FFE regained its accreditation in 2006 after a 16-month interruption.

FFSA disputes the process

The FFSA disputes the start of the revocation process, stating it has not received the inspection report or official letter that would have informed it of the facts and observations. In a statement, Pierre Ragues, a representative of the FFSA, said the federation continues its activities and its priority is to preserve continuity, maintain trust, and prepare for the future.

Legal and procedural timeline

The adversarial phase has been underway since October 23, with no specific deadline set beyond the notice to be heard. In previous cases, federations have had between ten days and three weeks to respond. A potential revocation would be published in the Official Journal as a motivated decree. The FFSA could challenge it before the Paris administrative court, which has jurisdiction as the first instance.

Financial and organizational concerns

The financial implications of the revocation are significant for sports associations, as affiliation to an accredited federation conditions their own accreditation and access to certain public aids. Officials from ASA and organizers expressed concerns about the potential impact of losing these supports. The portion of the federal budget linked to the delegation was estimated at 3.76% during discussions, but this figure is contested as too narrow an indicator of the real risk. The director's committee, meeting on October 14, maintained the freeze on all license fees for 2027, assuming management continuity.