2023-11-24 02:17:54
He stuck to his guns, avoiding angry topics and stating the obvious. Bernard Laporte was interviewed in Paris this Thursday morning by the parliamentary commission of inquiry into operating failures within sports federations as former president of the FFR.
He was initially caught cold on his recent news. Recruited last Sunday by Mohed Altrad, the owner of the Montpellier club to become its director of rugby, he reacted strongly the same evening on the airwaves of RMC to the questions raised by this new association between two men, convicted at first instance on December 13 for a “corruption pact”, having subsequently filed an appeal.
“You said: there are idiots everywhere, but that doesn’t interest me. Would you repeat these comments before the commission of inquiry? », First launched a parliamentarian. “What did I do wrong?” retorted the former coach of Stade Français and Toulon. The law allows me to do so. When I signed up, I did everything with my lawyers and Mr. Altrad also with his lawyers to find out if it was possible. We respected the legality. »
The former coach of the XV of France continued: “There are always jealous, bitter people, but those don’t interest me. I only have one life and I don’t want to spend it constantly responding to those who criticize to tell them if they are right or wrong. If I had not been able to perform this function I would not have done it. From the moment when nothing stopped me, I accepted this challenge until June to help this club which is in difficulty.”
“I resigned for personal reasons”
Bernard Laporte, elected president of the FFR in 2016 then re-elected in 2020, was sentenced in December 2022 to two years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros for having rendered a series of arbitrations for the benefit of Mohed Altrad, who had compensated him to the tune of 180,000 euros in March 2017, as part of an image contract that was never executed. He appealed this judgment but was forced to resign in January 2023. The businessman was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a fine of 50,000 euros and also appealed.
“You don’t think this could harm the image of sport? », Relaunched the parliamentarian. “I don’t see how this can harm the image of sport,” replied Laporte. I am presumed innocent. What would that mean? That we should stay at home and do nothing? » Asked whether he could or should have, under these conditions, remained at the head of the institution, the former Secretary of State for Sports said: “Yes, I could have since I am presumed innocent . I resigned for personal reasons. I could have stayed there until the conviction was final or not. Or the presumption of innocence no longer exists. »
The other topics discussed did not provide much further clarification. Bernard Laporte dodged each question relating to his indictment, hiding behind a letter from his lawyer. “I will not answer any questions about the current procedure,” he continued to object to each attempt.
“There is no problem of racism”
On the sometimes particular internal functioning of the FFR, the former elected official deferred to his general secretary Christian Dullin who “took care of that and who guaranteed the independence of the commissions. I was a volunteer president. I was there to represent and I had other important projects. It was necessary to restore strength to the XV of France because it keeps the amateur world alive by representing 85% of the FFR’s revenue. »
Concerning the Chalureau controversy – the 2nd row of Montpellier had been selected by Fabien Galthié for the World Cup even though he had been sentenced to six months in prison for racist assault at first instance before appealing and the verdict will be delivered on January 16 – Bernard Laporte responds: “We didn’t know, we need to have proof. There is the presumption of innocence.”
He then showed himself to be uncompromising on racism which according to him does not really concern rugby. “In the amateur matches I attended, I was never confronted with a problem of racism,” he said. In professional rugby, there is no problem of racism. But of course I am for stopping matches in the event of an incident. We had given instructions to the referees. A player is yellow or red but otherwise the matches must be stopped. »
The hearing ended with a feeling of unfinished business. In front of parliamentarians, the man who knows everything about the mysteries of rugby sent everyone back to their studies.
#Parliamentary #commission #inquiry #Bernard #Laporte #move