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FFR-LNR quarrel: Altrad cracks the united front of the clubs

2020-10-12T18:12:52.107Z


The president of Montpellier has "expressed reservations" on the mail of the clubs of the Top 14. The vice-president of the FFR, he reaffirms the good right of the FFR. The faint hope reunion on Wednesday is not looking the best…


Tick ​​tock, tick tock… The meeting is approaching and no one knows if the Blues will be there.

Sunday evening, the 31 players summoned by Fabien Galthié for France-Wales, October 24 at the Stade de France, are supposed to meet in Marcoussis.

Provided that an agreement is finally concluded between the League and the Federation.

A meeting that can be described as the last chance will take place this Wednesday morning between the two parties.

With clubs sticking to their position so far: five tests, not six.

Or even only three, as initially planned in the agreement binding the two bodies, if the standoff is to come to an end.

»READ ALSO - Querelle FFR-LNR: French rugby in what is most ridiculous

This Monday, however, a first crack appeared in the united front of the presidents of the Top 14 clubs, which pays the salaries of internationals.

Mohed Altrad, the owner of Montpellier, sent a letter in which he dissociates himself from his thirteen counterparts.

"We have decided to express reservations about the distribution of mail sent by the LNR to the FFR", poses in the preamble the head of the company.

Who is also the main sponsor of the XV of France.

And a relative of the president of the FFR, Bernard Laporte, the two men having been placed in police custody three weeks ago in a case of suspicion of favoritism ...

Mediation from the Ministry of Sports?

Mohed Altrad wants to be measured.

“We believe that this response commits the clubs, especially in the event that we should prevent a player from honoring a national team.

In this sense, we must analyze all the consequences of these acts out of respect for the players concerned, which does not mean that we are not united in substance.

“Regarding Montpellier, five players have been called up by the coach: Anthony Bouthier, Arthur Vincent, Mohamed Haouas, Paul Willemse and Vincent Rattez.

The president of the MHR clearly favors an exit from the top with, finally, an agreement between the two camps.

“We hope that an amicable outcome will free the French international players.

We deplore the lack of constructive conciliation and dialogue between the parties to reach an agreement and call for a resumption of negotiations to achieve a positive outcome.

Mohed Altrad thus supports the proposal of the president of Stade Toulousain, Didier Lacroix, who plans to resort to mediation from the Ministry of Sports.

A possibility taken up and mentioned by the LNR in its press release: “The French Rugby Federation, which has a public service delegation, cannot ignore a decision by the highest French administrative body, which is binding on everyone.

"

There is no more legal recourse.

It's like a dismissal, the case is closed

Serge Simon, vice-president of the FFR

Questioned Monday at the end of the day by the

AFP

, the vice-president of the FFR, Serge Simon, shows his firmness two days before this new conciliation meeting with the LNR.

“31 players were called up on Wednesday and right now it is believed that they will be there from Sunday evening to prepare for the opener against Wales.

“And therefore play the six matches provided for in the revised schedule.

“The Council of State rejected the request of the LNR.

From there, there is no more legal recourse.

It's like a dismissal, the case is closed, ”he says.

The expectations of the Council of State are however less clear-cut than it says and send back to back the two bodies, adding even that if a new agreement was not signed, it is the current convention - which does not provides that three tests - that would be applied.

"READ ALSO - XV of France: the Council of State rejects the request of the League but the impasse continues

Can a way out be found on Wednesday?

“We have already made a lot of proposals, a lot of concessions ... We are aware of the difficulties of the clubs.

It has been proposed to cap the international match sheets at five.

It seems to us to be the maximum.

While imagining the worst.

“If we do not play Wales, it would be a forfeit and undoubtedly a unique precedent in the history of the XV of France.

(…) There will be a French team on the pitch against Wales.

The problem is how to play and with whom.

(…) We understand that the context is particular.

But we cannot degrade the France team to the point where it no longer makes sense.

If it is a team which takes 30 points during six matches, that does not mean anything and that will accentuate the difficulties of everyone because, when the XV of France goes badly, everyone goes badly… I do not see how the XV of France could be sacrificed.

I am optimistic that reason wins.

"

Read also

  • XV of France: convocations "null and void"?

    The FFR warns the clubs

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-10-12

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