Article written by franceinfo: Sport – Théo Quintard and Thierry Vildary France Télévisions – Sport writing

A real blast. Johann Jeanneau, 49, employee trainer referee at the French basketball federation (FFBB) since 2005, has been laid off on a conservatory, Wednesday, February 12. In a report transmitted to the Federation, at the end of December, which we were able to consult, Léo (the first name was modified), A referee reproaches him with messages with sexual connotation, going back to 2016. “It's not because we are on a diet that we can't watch the menu!” ; “They told me to pay you in kind” ; “I find you very gay …” : This kind of SMS, which France Télévisions was able to read, would have been sent to several male referees.

According to some officials, these messages suggest that he has shown sexual favors, in return for good ratings from him, or other advantages. Contacted, Johann Jeanneau did not follow up on our requests. At this stage, he is not the subject of any legal proceedings and he benefits from the presumption of innocence.

Brother of the former French international Aymeric Jeanneau (56 selections) who is today General Manager of the Stade Rochelais, Johann Jeanneau is a reference in the world: referee in the first division since 2004 and on the international scene, between 2007 and 2017. Trainer renowned, he is also the assistant to the head of service of the officials of the training and employment center of the FFBB.

Since his election at the head of the FFBB and his taking office in mid-December, Jean-Pierre Hunckler indicates that the Federation has received five reports aimed at an employee of the FFBB for accusations of moral and/or sexual harassment, and that an investigation was opened internally in the third week of December. “I am this file very closely and even if there are very hard decisions to make, they will be taken”, Aid in France Télévisions the new boss of French basketball.

At the end of December 2024, a publication on the LinkedIn social network set fire to the powder. Nine years after the facts denounced, Léo, a referee, explains that he was the victim of “Unacceptable words” et “Explicit advances”, “emanating from a trainer framework in a position of authority” . He then said he had suffered situations akin to moral harassment and defamation of this same person, “With denigrant and falsely remarks aimed at harming its reputation”.

At the beginning of 2025, a new element was added to the file: two women arbitrators relate “Completely moved and inappropriate words”dixit Jean-Pierre Hunckler, following an internship in Bourges (Cher), mid-December. This pushed the basketball federation – also under media pressure – to act and to hang Johann Jeanneau “In an emergency” .

If the FFBB tried to keep this business internally until the end, The Johann Jeanneau file is not new in the mysteries of French basketball. According to our information, it is known by the services of the Federation and the Ministry of Sports for several years. He has already been reported two years ago under the chairmanship of Jean-Pierre Siutat. A first internal investigation had not given follow -up, nor to a sanction or a report to the Ministry of Sports. Contacted, the minister's office confirms, this time, that he “has been seized by the FFBB” while indicating that he “Do not communicate on the cases under investigation” .

In this dossier has been internally educated since December which, this time, seems to collect more factual elements, the director general, Alain Contensoux, and the federal services have not, for the time being, deemed necessary to warn justice, on the basis of article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The latter provides that “Any constituted authority, any public or official officer who, in the exercise of his functions, acquires knowledge of a crime or an offense” must inform the public prosecutor, “without delay” .

The Federation preferred to conduct its investigations on its side. “We wanted additional information and testimonies before transmitting (reporting) but if needed, we will use article 40”is justified Jean-Pierre Hunckler.

Apart from five reports between the end of 2024 and early 2025, several referees of the French championship, having followed training sessions under the direction of Johann Jeanneau, also relate “disturbing situations” . During an internship in 2019, Johann Jeanneau had licked a lollipop “Tendentiously “After a question asked at the end of the session by an official young person, explain several trainees. Three years ago, some referees placed under his authority report that he had invited a referee to come and withdraw his lot, after a victory to a quiz, on the step of his chamber door, at nightfall. Already, at that time, “suspicions” Regarding possible cases of moral and sexual harassment circulated among the referees, reports one of them.