Senators unanimously approved on Saturday the deletion in the 2024 budget of an article establishing advantageous tax measures in favor of “international sports federations”, first and foremost Fifa.
The few RDPI senators (presidential majority) present did not participate in the vote, carried out by show of hands, according to the president of the group, François Patriat.
The government for its part supported the article in question, and should logically reinstate it when the budget (PLF) returns to the Assembly, and will probably be adopted via the constitutional weapon of 49.3.
The system offers an exemption from corporate tax, corporate property tax and contribution on the added value of companies, as well as an exemption from income tax for employees of these federations domiciled in France for five years after their first assumption of duty.
Senators from almost all benches succeeded one another to denounce an excessive, incomprehensible, scandalous and, in turn, obscene tax gift (Francis Szpiner, LR), a scandalous and iniquitous device (Eric Jeansannetas, PS), an indecent advantage particularly with regard to -vis the amateur sports movement (Pascal Savoldelli, PCF).
The Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts Thomas Cazenave defended a tax provision which is part of a global strategy to make France a sporting nation, and stressed that this advantage would not concern the lucrative activities of Fifa or another federation, citing television rights, sponsorship, brands, derivative products.