The head of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Bernard Laporte, has been found guilty in a trial over influence peddling and illegally acquiring assets.
He was found guilty of four out of five bribery-related charges in a French court on Tuesday.
Laporte, who is also the World Rugby vice-chairman, has been fined €75,000 and got a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Altrad’s involvement
The FFR president’s lawyers immediately confirmed that they would appeal the decision after sentencing was handed down.
Laporte was convicted after the court ruled that he showed favouritism in awarding the shirt sponsor contract to Altrad, the company owned by his close friend Mohed Altrad – the billionaire owner of Montpellier.
Altrad has been given a suspended prison sentence of 18 months and has been fined €50,000.
The court deemed that Laporte ensured a series of marketing decisions favourable to Altrad and that he would get €180,000 image licensing in return – which was never carried out.
Altrad and Laporte’s history
Laporte was elected president of the French Rugby Federation in late 2016, and in March of the following year, a deal worth €1.8m was struck for Altrad to become the first-ever sponsor to appear on the French national team’s jerseys.
And in 2018, a follow-up deal negotiated by Laporte was signed, which prosecutors in the case say bears all the hallmarks of corruption.
Further accusations were made that Laporte interfered with French rugby’s federal disciplinary commission after a fine against Altrad’s company was reduced from €70,000 to €20,000.
Laporte’s ban includes any link to French rugby, but because he will appeal, he will retain his FFR presidency for now.
World Rugby’s reaction
World Rugby has provided a short reaction to the decision.
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“World Rugby notes the decision of the French court to sentence Fédération Française de Rugby (FFR) President and World Rugby Vice Chairman Bernard Laporte on corruption charges which relate to domestic matters,” a statement read.
The governing body did add that “The World Rugby Executive Committee will convene tonight to determine the next steps in accordance with the international federation’s Integrity Code.”
Updates are expected following the meeting.
The verdict comes only nine months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France on September 8, 2023.