The pressure on Bernard Laporte increases a little more.
Forty-eight hours after his two-year suspended prison sentence, a 75,000 euro fine and a two-year ban on exercising any function in rugby, a sentence he appealed, the president of the French Federation of rugby sees a new body demanding his resignation and the organization of a new election.
After the Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, it is this time the National Rugby League, which manages the championships and the professional clubs, which calls for the holding of a new democratic time.
“The LNR office took note of the decision pronounced on Tuesday by the Paris Criminal Court and of the position of the Minister of Sports, she wrote in a press release.
Faced with this unprecedented situation which is weakening the institution, and after consulting the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2, the LNR office considers that it is appropriate to bring peace of mind to French rugby through the organization by the FFR new elections, as requested by the Minister of Sports.
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“This approach will allow the governance designated at the end of these elections to move forward calmly towards the major deadlines which arise in French rugby”, continues the press release from the body headed by the former president of Toulouse René Bouscatel.
Laporte more isolated than ever
"Whatever happens, the priority of the LNR and the Top 14 and Pro D2 clubs will remain over the coming months to mobilize all the energies of professional rugby for the success of French rugby, especially as the big game approaches. goal of the 2023 World Cup.”
This position weakens a little more Bernard Laporte, whose lawyer Me Versini made it clear when he left the courtroom on Tuesday that he did not intend to resign from his post as president of the FFR.
However, he has already been forced to resign from his post as vice-president of World Rugby.
In a case of corruption with drawers, Bernard Laporte, whose current mandate runs until the fall of 2024, was found guilty of acts of passive corruption, influence peddling and concealment of misuse of corporate assets for several interventions in favor of the president of Montpellier Mohed Altrad, jersey sponsor of the Blues, with whom he had signed a personal contract.
In the event of a new election, Florian Grill, leader of the opposition, would seek the presidency of the FFR.
He also demanded the resignation of the steering committee of the FFR, which he accuses of having failed on numerous occasions.
Some 1,800 amateur clubs are called to the polls to elect the president of the FFR.