Spedding forced out by French red tape
“Spedding could become the successor to Jean-Marc Bosman whose contractual battles changed the face of football”
Top 14 clubs like Toulouse, Montpellier and Toulon were ready to sign France full-back Scott Spedding. Until, that is, the country hung him out to dry. Now he is without a club at all, turned into a pariah by a Federation that rushed to cap him in the hope he would save their faces.
Having a South African play a World Cup for them was fine before they sanctioned a system that would cost him his job.
Spedding has become a victim of a League rule imposing more and more French players each season on team sheets and, sadly for him, he does not meet the criteria as a JIFF, the acronym defining talent nurtured in France.
Even though the rule was not even dreamed of when he arrived at Brive at their invitation as a 21-year-old without a word of French but full of hope and determination.
He spent two years in the Brive academy and not the three that are now required retrospectively to qualify as a JIFF.
Sebastien Bonnet, in charge of Brive youngsters at the time, well remembers Spedding’s arrival. He told The Rugby Paper: “There is no doubt that what is now happening to Scott is unfair.
“It cannot have been easy for him at that age. He knew nobody and could not speak a word of our language.
“But he very quickly adapted. He is a very intelligent and determined man. He was so good, in fact, that he played a major part in turning our young ones into champions of France. He was soon offered a pro contract.
“I am for some kind of JIFF system, but it has to be balanced and take account of players like Scott. Otherwise, it is unjust.”
Spedding and his lawyer have so far battled in vain against the red tape that threatens to strangle his career.
The League and Federation have both rejected his appeals, the latter doing so after the National Olympic Committee had suggested an exception should be made in his case for two years.
On Friday – his 32nd birthday – the Council of State, France’s highest administrative body, announced after hearing his case they did not consider it urgent enough to make an immediate ruling.
Now Spedding, never afraid of ploughing deep into hostile territory, has referred the JIFF system to the European Commission. He could become the successor to Jean-Marc Bosman whose contractual battles changed the face of football.
He said: “I am in total agreement that you have to have a system to protect the France team and young French players.
“But there are rules in Europe that protect the free circulation of workers. I have a French passport and have trouble finding work.”
Spedding wept genuine tears of joy when he was first informed he would be playing for his adopted country four years ago.
He has since represented them 22 times and remains a member of their 45-man squad designed to be spared the full rigours of a Top 14 season.
The irony of his inclusion lies in his glum admission that the prized JIFF status, without which no elite club will touch him with a barge-pole, may be denied him for good.
Spedding has spent five months contesting a predicament with enough bizarre elements to feature in a Kafka novel. He accuses Federation vice-president Serge Simon of twice assuring him he would be successful in his efforts before turning him down.
Clermont were the first to decline the chance of giving him a new contract at the end of this season. Spedding said: “The board told me I had been away with the France team an average four months a year and, since they could not count me as a JIFF, that made the problem worse.
“Toulouse, Montpellier, Toulon and Bordeaux-Begles all told me that, if I were to be declared a JIFF, they would sign me. But, of course, I have heard nothing since.
“I still want to play for France and go to the next World Cup but, at this rate, I will have to end my career before then.”
All Top 14 clubs have been obliged to field an average of 14 JIFFS in their squads of 23 this season. That will be increased to 15 next season, then 16 and 17 in following years.
The League means business on this issue with penalties in place for those who do not meet the demands. Both Oyonnax and Stade Francais had to adjust their teams last night so as not to start next season with minus points.
Spedding’s Euro case is based on the raising of the JIFF numbers and quotes an interesting precedent.
The commission considered that a rule guaranteeing the presence of 40 per cent of home-grown talent in Spanish basketball contravened their rules. JIFFS will form 65 per cent of Top 14 teams next season.