The minister had estimated on Tuesday, the day of the announcement of the judgment, that this conviction was an “obstruct” to the mission of Bernard Laporte at the head of the FFR.
Then, on Friday, the Federation's ethics committee had ordered Mr. Laporte, 58, to "withdraw temporarily, as a precaution, until a final criminal decision".
But in an interview with the Sunday newspaper, the latter affirms that he does not "see why (he) should" leave his post, given that he has appealed the decision, which suspends the sentence.
In an interview with the site lequipe.fr, the minister underlined her identity of view with the ethics committee, which "diagnoses and perfectly qualifies the situation".
"He recalls that the best interests of rugby must take precedence over particular interests, that the values of rugby, ethics and professional conduct must be protected. He demonstrates that Bernard Laporte is no longer, as it stands, able to demonstrate the credit, authority or trust that comes with being president. It's totally aligned with my statement," she said.
To Bernard Laporte's lawyers, who pointed out in the JDD that Ms. Oudéa-Castéra had "openly supported (...) the list of Florian Grill", opponent of that of Mr. Laporte, the minister affirms that she "n' will not accept that (his) impartiality be called into question".
"This line of defense, based on the hope of creating a diversion, is not worthy. It does not fool anyone," she said, assuring that her "only requirement" is "that of ethics and interest superior of French rugby".
In office since the end of 2016, Mr. Laporte, re-elected in 2020 for a four-year term, was found guilty of five of the six offenses for which he was prosecuted, including passive corruption and influence peddling.
France is due to host the Rugby World Cup from September 8 to October 28, 2023.
© 2022 AFP
