These are figures that are hard to rejoice in, and at the same time which prove that things are moving in the right direction. The 2025 report from the Signal-Sport unit, made public this Thursday by the Minister of Sports Marina Ferrari, highlights a sharp increase in the number of reports of violence: 872 were collected, compared to 532 the previous year (+ 64%) and 363 in 2023 (+ 140%). All of them gave rise to the opening of an administrative investigation by state services, and at least 39 of them ultimately ended up in the hands of public prosecutors, that is to say at the criminal level. For now.
“Impunity no longer has its place”
“This increase shows that speech is freeing up, that the system is working and that the lines are moving,” Marina Ferrari wants to believe. The minister is pleased to see this tool, created in 2020 after several significant testimonies on long-silenced abuses in the world of sport, notably that of former skater Sarah Abitbol, gaining strength year after year. Since 2023, it no longer only concerns gender-based and sexual violence (SGBV) but all types of violence (physical, psychological, etc.) and inappropriate behavior.
In 2025, 206 administrative decisions could be taken urgently by the prefects for situations which revealed serious and imminent dangers. And following in-depth investigations, 58 perpetrators of violence were the subject of lasting decisions, such as the ban on working as an educator or manager, the withdrawal of a professional card or the outright deregistration of a structure.
“These are strong signals to all victims, to let them know that they can speak, be heard and protected. It is also a strong message addressed to those who abuse their position: impunity no longer has its place in sport,” asserts Marina Ferrari.
With a little perspective now, we can see that certain trends emerge in the profile of the victims. They are first and foremost women: they represent 57% of reports in 2025, a figure which rises to 77% in cases of VSS. They are also mostly minors (67%), and even more so when we zoom in on sexual violence (76%). These proportions observed in 2025 correspond within a few points to the average established since the creation of the unit. As for the perpetrators of this violence, in more than 9 out of 10 cases they are men. Nearly half of them are volunteer educators in clubs.
Act upstream with integrity checks
The latter are now subject, like professional supervisors, to an integrity check. Each time a club hires a speaker to give lessons, it must declare it to the Ministry of Sports. He will enter his name into an automated system linked to the FIJAIS, the file of the Ministry of Justice which lists the perpetrators of sexual or violent offenses, to verify that he is not there.
More than a million checks were carried out in 2025, and nearly five million since 2021. “A tool that allows us to act upstream, to ensure that predators cannot operate,” says Marina Ferrai. These controls led last year to 414 bans on volunteers and 567 professional educators.
All these figures attest, believes the minister, that the public action initiated at the time by Roxana Maracineau “is essential and must continue”. The trend is still on the rise at the start of 2026, which saw an increase in the number of reports of 54% compared to the first months of 2025. Also because the ministry’s platform is increasingly known to the general public. You have probably noticed if you go to sports halls or stadiums, large posters are present everywhere. An obligation since last May.
At the same time, the in-depth work carried out by associations such as Colossus with Feet of Clay or The Voice of the Child is bearing fruit. “All of this helps build a relationship of trust with the victims,” argues Jérôme Fournier, who has just replaced Fabienne Bourdais as ministerial delegate dedicated to the fight against violence in sport.
And soon, e-sport
Also proof that the Federations feel more and more concerned – even if some came from very far away – they are now the ones reporting the most reports (273 last year), to the victims directly or their loved ones (207). The federal authorities each have their own representative, in direct contact with the unit. Within the latter itself, the workforce is gradually increasing, with thirteen agents currently working on this issue full-time.
“We owe victims a certain efficiency. It is our responsibility to protect them, to protect our children, proclaims Marina Ferrari. We still need to make progress in their care and support. » The minister promises, there is no question of a slowdown. On the contrary, “we still have a lot to do,” she realizes.
Our file on gender-based and sexual violence
Soon, e-sport will also be affected. A blind spot in this fight against violence, for the moment, this sector will be the subject of measures, promises the High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry. “More than 6 million minors play video games in France. Supervisors must be subject to the same integrity checks,” she argues. France Esport and the video game publishers union are in favor. “This is a clear message to predators: we see you, we will hunt you down relentlessly,” says the High Commissioner with determination.
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