Bernard Laporte, central figure of French rugby for more than 20 years, resigned Friday from the presidency of the federation (FFR), seven months before the World Cup which will take place in France. His departure was announced in the morning by the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera, to the media present in front of the headquarters of the FFR in Marcoussis, near Paris, including AFP.
Sentenced to a two-year suspended prison sentence for corruption
Since his sentence last month to two years in prison suspended for corruption, the minister pushed towards the exit the one who had occupied this same position in the government between 2007 and 2009, after having been coach of the Blues (2000-2007) and before seize the presidency of the Federation at the end of 2016. “I can confirm the resignation of Bernard Laporte”, declared Amélie Oudéa-Castéra in front of the premises of the FFR in Marcoussis, where an important steering committee is held.
The purpose of this meeting is to draw the conclusions of the vote organized this week among some 1,500 French rugby clubs, which resulted in a disavowal for the outgoing president. The question put to them, after Laporte’s withdrawal, was simple: “Do you approve of Mr. Bernard Laporte’s proposal to appoint Mr. Patrick Buisson as President-Delegate of the FFR?” Buisson is close to Bernard Laporte, who retired after his conviction in December while retaining his title. The response was just as good: 51.06% of voters said no to this option, with a turnout close to 91%.
The Minister of Sports immediately welcomed “the very strong participation of clubs in this democratic time, which was essential after the conviction at first instance of Bernard Laporte and his withdrawal”. “I have confidence in the fact that these exchanges will make it possible to find a way to quickly stabilize clear and legitimate governance, while continuing to prepare effectively and calmly (…) the 2023 World Cup that our country has the honor to welcome”, added + AOC +, in reference to the steering committee on Friday.
Board of directors refuses to resign
According to information from Europe 1, the steering committee refuses to resign. Consequently, the nine members of the opposition resign in turn. New federal elections could now be organized, after the appointment of an interim president who will exercise his function until the next congress of the FFR scheduled for this summer. It will choose a chair, from among the members of the steering committee, to complete the current term until 2024.
This option is the one favored by the opposition to Laporte, including Florian Grill, according to whom “the clubs want to turn the page”. “Let’s have quick elections, bring rugby together and bring it together to succeed in a major challenge and preserve our French team,” said the president of the Ile-de-France League, who will be a candidate in the event of new elections.
Bernard Laporte was sentenced on December 13 to a two-year suspended prison sentence for having entered into a “corruption pact” with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad. Having appealed the decision, his sentence, accompanied by a ban on exercising his activity as president of the FFR, was not immediately enforceable.
Indented so far
The former coach of the Blues had therefore refused to resign but accepted, under the joint pressure of the Minister of Sports, the National Rugby League (LNR) and the ethics committee of the FFR, to withdraw behind a deputy president until the appeal trial, which should only take place after the Mondial-2023.
But his position had been further weakened by his police custody for a few hours on Tuesday, the day after the opening of the vote, in a case of money laundering of aggravated tax fraud. Even if he had emerged free without prosecution at this stage. “It is perfectly scandalous that the prosecution chose the date of the election of Mr. Patrick Buisson to fix that of the hearing and that the disclosure of this hearing was made the same day”, had protested one of the Bernard Laporte’s lawyers, Me Jean-Pierre Versini-Campinchi, castigating with AFP “a relentlessness of the PNF”.
Source: Europe1
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
