He succeeded in validating, in broad outline, his plan.
Bernard Laporte, sentenced by the courts for corruption ten days ago but who appealed in stride, won a victory Thursday during a meeting at the Ministry of Sports where his future at the head of the French rugby federation (FFR) was at stake. And despite the violent headwinds within the world of rugby and a still recent desire from Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra for the departure of the former coach, here he is still at his post.
Bernard Laporte will therefore remain the boss of the Federation.
At least on paper.
Because the president will have to, as he and the federal office of the instance proposed on Monday and as the ethics committee of the FFR demanded, withdraw from his duties for the time of the final criminal decision.
In practice, this means that the current president will no longer participate in decision-making, will not be able to sign any commitment for the FFR and will not represent the federation in public meetings.
A withdrawal which must, at the request of the ministry, "be accompanied by all the guarantees necessary for its effectiveness".
A referendum to choose the interim
And who to replace him?
Deputy Chairman.
This concept defended by Laporte and the federal office so as not to leave power vacant for the time of the appeal trial, the date of which is still unknown but which should be held within a range of between 18 and 24 months, i.e. after the World Cup rugby in September-October 2023.
Not in favor of the basic principle, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra ended up saying yes, subject to “democratic validation by the clubs, according to an irreproachable process and a precise and rapid timetable”.
The idea would be to organise, as quickly as possible, an electronic vote supervised by a bailiff.
No open ballot on the program, but a referendum, a "yes" or "no", to the interim successor designated, either by Bernard Laporte or by the federal office, to replace him.
Three men are in the ranks: the right arm of Laporte and vice-president Serge Simon, released after the same trial, the secretary general Christian Dullin or the vice-president in charge of amateur rugby, Patrick Buisson.
The federal office must now meet on Friday morning to refine the copies validated in principle by the ministry.
Everything must have, subject to the return of the ethics committee, the agreement of the ministry no later than the beginning of January.
But if the calendar and details remain to be refined, Bernard Laporte emerges victorious from the showdown started after his conviction at first instance, while the National Rugby League and its main opponent Florian Grill, beaten in 2020, demanded new elections.
“We will be attentive to the guarantees requested by the minister, slips Grill.
But for now, French rugby needs to calm down and calmly prepare for the World Cup on its soil.
With, as the figurehead of the FFR, a delegate president.
