Throwing Games: French Pétanque Legends Face Match-Fixing Charges

The normally serene world of pétanque – the French lawn game similar to bocce – is in turmoil this week as several of its most celebrated exponents stand accused of throwing a game to benefit a gambling syndicate.

Among them are Dylan Rocher, 34, and Henri Lacroix, 51, both multiple world champions who have been described as the “Messi and Ronaldo” of pétanque. They are alleged to have deliberately lost a game against lower opposition during the prestigious 2025 Masters de Pétanque event last September, played just outside Paris.

Prosecutors have charged nine people with ties to the highest levels of the sport with offenses including organized fraud, match-fixing, and money laundering. Each faces up to five years in prison and a maximum €500,000 fine if convicted at trial, which is scheduled for next year. All deny the charges.

Suspicious Bets

On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Rocher and Lacroix were playing for France 2 in a semi-final match against a local team, Levallois-Perret, which they were widely expected to win.

The Masters de Pétanque is one of the few competitions in the sport on which licensed French bookmakers are permitted to offer odds, making it vulnerable to betting-related corruption.

Investigators had been alerted to suspicious betting patterns before the game by a sports integrity firm working with the French gambling regulator, ANJ.

More than €13,000 (US$15,000) had been placed on a win for Levallois-Perret in the lead up to the game, according to prosecutors. It was concerning enough for investigators with the French National Police’s racing and gambling investigations unit to attend the game. The underdogs triumphed 13-4 in a massive upset.

It was later determined that a handful of people had backed France 2 to lose, most of whom were located in the Toulon area, where many of those charged live. Winnings from the bets totaled around €61,000, ($70,000) according to prosecutors, though French operator Winamax refused to pay out on some of the bets.

Prime Targets

While pétanque is hugely popular in France, it is not a professional sport, and the prize money is modest. Low-paid sportspeople are prime targets for match-fixing syndicates.

The sports official governing body, the French Federation of Pétanque and Provençal Game (FFPJP) fears the allegations could undermine public confidence in a sport that is deeply woven into French culture, with thousands of affiliated clubs and a thriving amateur scene.

 “If it is proven, it is a catastrophe for [the players involved] and for the Federation in terms of image,” the federation’s president, Michel Le Bot, told Le Parisien on Wednesday.