The appeal trial in the Laporte/Altrad case is getting denser.
If it was clear as soon as the judgment was rendered on December 13 that the president of the federation would appeal against his two-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of 75,000 euros and a two-year ban on exercising a function in rugby, the businessman's lawyer had not yet wanted to comment.
According to information from L'Equipe, confirmed by Le Parisien-Aujourd'hui in France, the president of Montpellier has finally decided to appeal.
Mohed Altrad had been sentenced to 18 months suspended prison sentence, 50,000 euros fine and an additional sentence of two years of ineligibility for active corruption, influence peddling, abuse of corporate assets.
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) in charge of this file with drawers has therefore decided to make a cross-appeal.
A judicial response that broadens the debates during the appeal trial for charges for which the defendants had been acquitted, exposing them to heavier sentences.
Bernard Laporte was thus released at first instance on the count of breach of trust.
Serge Simon, tipped to be delegate president of the FFR, tried again
The PNF has also decided to appeal the release of Serge Simon.
The vice-president of the FFR, friend and right-hand man of the former coach of the XV of France, had been tried for "illegal taking of interest" in the same file, which revolves around a contract of representation concluded between Laporte and Altrad before the former took over as head of the federation.
The former Stade Français hooker is one of the men approached to take on the role of deputy president during the withdrawal of Bernard Laporte negotiated with the Ministry of Sports.
According to a judicial source, the National Rugby League (LNR), a civil party, also appealed.
The deadline for appealing is set until midnight on Thursday.
The date for the appeal hearing has not yet been set.
It should be held within a period of between 18 and 24 months, i.e. after the Rugby World Cup organized in France in 2023 (September 8 - October 28).