The National Rugby League (LNR) called in a statement on Thursday, December 15, for new elections to be held at the French Rugby Federation (FFR), whose president, Bernard Laporte, was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday. suspended sentence – a decision he appealed. “Faced with this unprecedented situation which weakens the institution, and after consulting the presidents of Top 14 and Pro D2, the LNR office considers that it is appropriate to bring appeasement back to French rugby through the organization. by the FFR of new elections, as requested by the Minister of Sports “wrote the NRL.
“This approach will allow the governance appointed at the end of these elections to move forward calmly towards the major deadlines that arise in French rugby”can we also read in the press release while France will organize the Rugby World Cup next year (from September 8 to October 28).
Unenforceable convictions
Bernard Laporte and businessman Mohed Altrad, president of the Montpellier rugby club, were sentenced by the Paris criminal court for a corruption pact linked in particular to the sponsorship of the jersey of the XV of France. In office since the end of 2016, the president of the FFR was convicted of five of the six offenses for which he was prosecuted, including passive corruption and influence peddling.
Mr. Laporte having appealed the decision, the suspended prison sentence as well as the ban on exercising the activity of president of the FFR for a period of two years are not immediately enforceable.
The Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, had however called on Tuesday to “a new democratic era to allow French rugby as quickly as possible to start again on a sufficiently healthy and solid foundation”.
“This new context prevents Bernard Laporte from being able, as it stands, to continue his mission in good conditions at the head of a delegated federation of a public service mission, at such a decisive moment for French rugby. only the last straight line before a Rugby World Cup where France will receive nations from all over the world ”she thought.