Stade Toulousain has initiated legal action against L'Équipe, a prominent French sports newspaper, in response to allegations published in two articles on February 18, 2026. The club, which has won the French championship three times, issued a statement clarifying their legal arguments and asserting their commitment to transparency.

The defamation claims arise from assertions in L'Équipe that Stade Toulousain acknowledged concealing Antoine Dupont's contract with the company 3S-Alyzia from the salary cap manager and admitted to committing fraud by recognizing their mistake and paying a fine. The club vehemently disputes these accusations, deeming them false. They emphasize that the controls referred to pertained to specific seasons, and the insinuations of misconduct are inaccurate.

By taking this legal stance, Stade Toulousain aims to protect its reputation and assert its integrity in handling contracts and compliance with salary cap regulations. The outcome of this defamation case could have broader implications for the relationship between sports clubs and media reporting in France, particularly regarding the transparency and accountability of professional athletes and their contracts.