Top 14: Racing 92 manager Collazo dismisses JIFF quota controversy

Racing 92 manager Patrice Collazo has dismissed concerns surrounding the club's compliance with the JIFF (players from French training centers) quota, stating it "made us smile and doesn't keep us from sleeping."

Ahead of a crucial match against Toulouse, reports surfaced that Racing 92 might fall short of the requirement to field 18 JIFF players out of 23 on the matchday squad. Failure to meet this quota could result in a six-point deduction at the start of the next season. Currently, the club's average JIFF presence per match stands at 15.92, slightly below the LNR's minimum of 16.

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I saw that we made the headlines for 24 hours. There was the performance in Clermont, as you reported. There were the JIFFs. It's good because in 24 hours, we've returned to the spotlight a bit. That means we're a bit bankable again.

Collazo expressed frustration with the timing of the issue, suggesting it gained prominence only after Racing 92 secured a significant victory over Clermont, moving them to fifth in the league standings. "I saw that we made the headlines for 24 hours. There was the performance in Clermont, as you reported. There were the JIFFs. It's good because in 24 hours, we've returned to the spotlight a bit. That means we're a bit bankable again," he remarked sarcastically.

He drew a parallel to political maneuvering, where issues are sometimes raised strategically. "It reminds me of those guys who play politics and are great guys. And the day they run, dossiers fall out. It reminds me a bit of that. So it makes me smile..." Collazo asserted that the club is aware of the JIFF situation and will field the best available team against Toulouse, as they always do. He indicated that the full context of the JIFF regulations needs to be considered, not just isolated details.

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It reminds me of those guys who play politics and are great guys. And the day they run, dossiers fall out. It reminds me a bit of that. So it makes me smile...