2023-07-01 15:57:04
Last December, Bernard Laporte was given a two-year suspended prison sentence, a fine of 75,000 euros and a ban on exercising any function in rugby for two years. The former president of the French Federation (FFR) (2016-2023) and vice-president of World Rugby had been found guilty of corruption and influence peddling for having rendered a series of arbitrations for the benefit of the Altrad group, including the granting of jersey sponsorship for the XV of France.
So far, all the lawyers’ fees for the former leader of French rugby have been advanced by the FFR, under an agreement signed between the two parties… and the federation may have to bear these costs until at the end. This Saturday, during the Ordinary General Assembly held at the close of the FFR Congress, in Lille, Deputy President Alexandre Martinez specified that “if he (Bernard Laporte) is not condemned (on appeal ), indeed, it is the federation which will bear, on the basis of this agreement, the lawyer’s fees. »
Florian Grill felt that “reimbursement is a prerequisite”
“We did not pay Bernard Laporte’s lawyer fees,” he said. After decision of the federal office, we advanced them. The FFR has not abandoned this sum. After the result of December 13, the FFR signed an agreement (with Bernard Laporte) to pay these legal fees, plus legal interest. He will have to repay them if he is found guilty on appeal. »
In mid-June, following his election as head of the FFR, the new president Florian Grill had already addressed this issue on the antennas ofEurope 1, considering that “it is not up to the Federation and the amateur clubs to pay the legal costs of a trial. Reimbursement is a prerequisite. Anyone would do that in their everyday life. At the end of the General Assembly, he reconsidered this position in the light of the existence of this agreement. “I will honor this agreement signed by the Federation, which I learned of during my discussion with Alexandre Martinez (shortly after his election). If I had been in charge, I would not have signed this type of agreement. But I will register in the continuity. It is up to me to honor this agreement and not to call it into question. »
#Rugby #Bernard #Laporte #reimburse #lawyers #fees #FFR #convicted #appeal