His voice still carries.
Two months after resigning, the former president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Bernard Laporte, let loose in an interview with
Eurosport
and published this Sunday.
The former coach of the XV of France (2000-2007) had been discreet in the media since this date of January 27.
A month earlier, he had been given a two-year suspended prison sentence for having entered into a "
corruption pact
" with the businessman and president of the Montpellier club Mohed Altrad.
Since then, Laporte confides that he has resumed "
the interventions in seminars
" and has "
every day rugby people on the phone
".
But he refuses to monopolize the news.
“
When I see what is happening today in this country, all these difficulties in our society, I do not want to put gall on gall,
develops Laporte.
I want us to be positive and to accompany this French team, which can bring us happiness and emotion.
The Blues are among the favorites for the next World Cup which will take place in France, from September 8 to October 28.
Laporte denounces "relentlessness" and "permanent lies"
In the wake of his conviction in mid-December, Laporte had agreed to step down from the presidency, at the request of the Federal Bureau, and had appointed Patrick Buisson as deputy president.
Consulted by the FFR via a referendum at the end of January, the amateur clubs did not approve this designation at 51.06%.
“
When I see that Patrick was not elected by 80 votes, I tell myself that we still had the support of amateur clubs,
judge Laporte.
What I took personally, on the other hand, it is this relentlessness and these permanent lies.
»
Laporte refers, among other things, to his police custody requested by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office in a case of laundering of aggravated tax evasion, which occurred during the consultation of amateur clubs.
The former Secretary of State, who says he does not read the press, takes the opportunity to defend his record: “
Today all the teams in France are running, we have a budget of 136 million (euros) and we are going to go to 140 million.
What more could I do?
Nothing !
»
"I can't even blame them for how much they make me laugh"
Finally, Laporte does not mince his words with regard to Florian Grill, Fabien Pelous and Abdelatif Benazzi.
Pelous and Benazzi were members of the opposition list led by Grill when Laporte was in turmoil and refused to resign in January.
“
Those who spend their time criticizing is that they have nothing else to do or that they are not good,
criticizes Laporte.
The opposition had a blast, but what have these people done for rugby?
“Laporte directly criticizes Grill who “
does not master what the high level is
” and Benazzi who “
did not even do a year in a staff in Montpellier
” and who “
is hated by everyone
”.
"
I can't even blame them so much they make me laugh,"
continues Laporte.
If these people were good, they would be in place of Mola, Urios and company.
No, they are just there to try to exist in a federation because they suck!
And it is clear that those who speak the most today are the most useless.
On February 1, Alexandre Martinez, treasurer of the FFR, was appointed interim president, then confirmed by the steering committee on February 3.
A new election is scheduled for mid-June.