"Turmoil in the French pétanque community as prosecutors investigate top players and officials in a match-fixing probe"

Pétanque, typically a calm and understated sport, has surprisingly become entangled in a wide-ranging match-fixing scandal involving some of its most prominent players, officials, and an alleged gambling syndicate.

French prosecutors have charged several players and sports officials, accusing them of deliberately fixing matches during the 2025 Masters de Pétanque in September 2026. The implications could be serious, involving Dylan Rocher and Henri Lacroix, two of the most celebrated and recognized players in the sport. However, they are not alone in this scandal, as others like Jean Feltain and David Doerr have also been implicated by investigators. The charges against those involved range from match-fixing and money laundering to participating in organized fraud. Each person named in the investigation could face up to five years in prison and a six-figure fine. Legal proceedings won’t start until next year, giving both the prosecution time to build their case and the defense time to prepare their response. So far, no one has pleaded guilty or attempted to negotiate with the prosecutor’s office. Rocher and Lacroix are specifically accused of helping the team France 2 lose a match against Levallois-Perret, a game they were expected to win, with the loss linked to €13,000 in bets placed on the underdog. The supposedly weaker team won the game 13-4. Investigators claim the bets on Levallois-Perret resulted in a significant payout of €61,000.