the eighteen clubs seeking affiliation to the Federation Mauricienne de Judo, he will, for the benefit of th…
(No. B/105) Mr F. Quirin (Third Member for Beau Bassin & Petite Rivière) asked the Minister of Youth and Sports whether in regard to the eighteen clubs seeking affiliation to the Federation Mauricienne de Judo, he will, for the benefit of the House, obtain information as to where matters stand, indicating – (a) the ruling of the Sports Arbitration Tribunal in relation thereto, and (b) whether any decision has been taken pertaining to the recognition thereof and, if not, why not.
Madam Speaker, I would like to refer the House to my reply to PQ B/220 at our Sitting on 25 March 2025 wherein I had stated that while I am fully prepared to report on matters pertaining to sport federation in relation to the obligations under the Sports Act 2016, it will not be appropriate to report on the internal affairs. It is to be highlighted that the National Sports Federations are autonomous bodies. As such, affiliation of sports clubs thereto is an internal matter of the respective federation. As such, any queries regarding such matters should normally be addressed to the federation concerned. Madam Speaker, I can, however, inform the House on actions taken at the level of my Ministry to find a lasting solution to this long-standing dispute between the federation and some clubs seeking affiliation with it. Since January 2025, three reconciliation meetings have been held between the contesting parties and the federation without success. After proactive discussion, in September 2025, the federation finally agreed to the finalisation and formalisation of the affiliation criteria following which, a process was initiated. I am informed by the federation that 13 – and not 18 clubs – had applied for affiliation with the Fédération Mauricienne de Judo. Out of these 13, six clubs had obtained official recognition from the federation. I am given to understand that the affiliation process is ongoing since the federation has informed that one of the clubs that has not been retained for affiliation has not fulfilled the criteria. The status will be considered at the forthcoming annual general meeting scheduled for 21st of this month. I wish to underline that this partial resolution represents a positive development. The only pending cases is that of the Cassis Fraternel Judo Club. I understand that it is the general assembly of the federation that has refused the affiliation of the said club on various grounds. I am further informed that while Cassis Fraternel Judo Club had previously brought a case before the Sports Arbitration Tribunal regarding affiliation matters, it has withdrawn the case itself on 31 July 2025. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that my Ministry, keeping in mind the autonomous stages of the sport federation, remains fully attentive to the situation the best interests of all Judokas, and has advised the federation to continue guiding the non-affiliated clubs in addressing any identified shortcomings so that they may fulfil the required criteria for future affiliation.
Yes!
Merci, Madame la présidente. L’honorable ministre sera, je pense, d’accord que cette situation dure depuis des années. Il a parlé dans sa réponse, Madame la présidente, de six clubs qui ont récemment été affiliés. D’après mes informations, ces six clubs ne font pas partie des clubs qui ont été pénalisés durant ces dernières années.
No statement!
. Je viens à ma question. Peut-on savoir, dans le cas du judo – on sait très bien que l’honorable ministre a appliqué la guillotine en ce qui concerne le badminton –, pourquoi, en ce qui concerne cette fédération, une situation qui perdure depuis des années, qui pénalise nos judokas et judokates depuis des années – il parle d’autonomie, oui–, mais pourquoi dans le cas de cette fédération, il n’a pas appliqué la guillotine qui aurait dû être appliquée depuis pas mal de temps ? Pour permettre justement à cette fédération de se rendre compte qu’on ne peut pas continuellement, pour je ne sais quelle raison, conflit ou autre, pénaliser des athlètes alors qu’ils font de leur mieux pour faire flotter le quadricolore. Pourquoi a-t-on attendu tout ce temps ?
Hon. Minister!
Madam Speaker, the hon. Member will surely know that Section 9 (9) in the Sports Act is not what we can use here for judo. We have applied it for another federation because they do not meet the criteria. They did not respect the Sports Act. But here I ask the hon. Member: give me one point where I can apply what you said ‘guillotine’ for that federation. I am willing to do it if you give the reason.
Okay! Why do you not deal with this nicely afterwards? You want to?
(Interruptions)
I do not…
Hmmm!
Je ne vais pas polémiquer. Je vais simplement dire à l’honorable ministre que le monde sportif mauricien attend avec impatience que…
Vous faites des déclarations !
…ce problème soit réglé.
On a entendu! On vous a entendu !
Voilà !
(Interruptions)
Simplement, on ne peut pas…
Hon. Member, I fully agree with you on that issue. I am the person who is going to be very fair and honest if the Cassis Fraternel got the affiliation.
All of them!
Je n’arrive pas à bien suivre. Your next question! This one is on badminton. ASSOCIATION MAURICIENNE DE BADMINTON – MANAGING COMMITTEE DISSOLUTION