French publication L’Équipe has launched an investigation into payments made to France captain Antoine Dupont and his Stade Toulousain teammate Anthony Jelonch by the company 3S-Alyzia, a partner of the Top 14 giants.
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According to reports, the payments relate to image rights deals and amount to roughly €1.8 million paid to Dupont over nearly a decade, with a further €170,000 reportedly paid to Jelonch. However, L’Équipe claims there is little evidence that the players’ image rights were actually used in a way that would justify the scale of the payments.
The report has raised suspicions that the arrangement could have been used to circumvent the Top 14 salary cap, with the payments potentially acting as undeclared income linked to the club.
The issue is particularly sensitive for Toulouse as they have already faced disciplinary action this season. The Ligue Nationale de Rugby previously sanctioned the club with a two-point deduction and a €45,000 fine relating to the transfer of former fullback Melvyn Jaminet.
Under Top 14 regulations, clubs found to have exceeded the salary cap by more than €275,000 in a given season can face severe sporting penalties, including significant points deductions.
If investigators conclude that the payments were effectively additional salary linked to Toulouse, the consequences could be serious. With the club already under scrutiny from regulators, another breach would likely result in a far heavier punishment.
Should a salary cap violation be confirmed, the case could ultimately end with Toulouse receiving a substantial points deduction, potentially having a major impact on the Top 14 standings this season.
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