Christian Dullin, the secretary general of the FFR, justified the resolution to create a post of deputy president adopted by 61.32% of the votes - representing a little less than half of the clubs - by a need for "modernization" and " simplification ”of the institution based in Marcoussis.
"The president cannot be everywhere and represent the Federation everywhere," said Vice-President Serge Simon.
The opposition to the governance in place, embodied by the president of the Ile-de-France League Florian Grill, narrowly defeated during the re-election of Laporte in early October, had on Thursday denounced a "coup".
"Everyone will have understood that it is in fact a question of appointing Serge Simon to the post of deputy president of the French Rugby Federation", warned the elected Ovale Ensemble, for whom "Bernard Laporte has no ambition only for his future at World Rugby ”, of which he was elected vice-president in early May.
“Not at all,” replied Laporte: “I will stay in my post until the end.
I was elected vice-president of World Rugby, it's a lot of work, it's roughly a meeting every two days.
The modification of the rules of procedure does not go at all in the sense of delegating in the sense that I will no longer be there.
On the contrary, I will always be present. ”
"We will obviously comply with all solidarity directives, including regarding remuneration"
Serge Simon
For Ovale Ensemble, Laporte wishes to delegate the management of the FFR to Simon, "previously augmented as well as all general management".
"The law does not allow it", swept Laporte.
"The remuneration given to me has never been increased, it is a lie," said Simon, who clarified that the remuneration linked to his presence on the World Rugby board was paid to the FFR.
"As for a possible solidarity effort" in this period of crisis, "we will obviously comply with all solidarity directives, including regarding remuneration," said Simon.
He also announced that coaches and players of the XV of France had agreed to a financial effort over the current season of the order of 10% for the highest salaries.
The accounts for the 2019-2020 season were approved at 72.80%, the treasurer Alexandre Martinez presenting a positive result of 411,000 euros and emphasizing the “financial strength” of the FFR in the context of the health crisis.
Martinez quantified at 2.5 million euros the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on operating income, in deficit of 3.4 million euros.
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