Stade Français rugby club hit by ransomware attack, hackers demand ransom

The Paris‑based Stade Français rugby club has been targeted by the Qilin ransomware group. The attackers claim to have stolen sensitive data, including passports and identity cards of players and staff, and have set a deadline of 15 August to receive a ransom, threatening to publish the information if their demands are not met.

The club confirmed the incident, activated its crisis‑management plan with independent cybersecurity experts, notified authorities and filed a police complaint. Immediate measures were taken to contain the breach, investigate and restore systems from clean backups. The club’s ticketing service and online shop were reported as unaffected.

The incident highlights the growing risk of cyber‑extortion for sports organisations and raises concerns about potential identity‑theft for the individuals whose documents were exposed.