Northern | US

Report: Laporte to be interviewed by French anti-fraud squad

Bernard Laporte. Photo: Getty
Comments
Comment

World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte is set to be interviewed by the French Financial Prosecution Office (PNF) over his links to Montpellier Herault owner Mohed Altrad.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to AFP, the interview is taking place following the FFR agreeing to fine Montpellier €3million at the behest of Sports Ministry inspectors. The noses of Montpellier Hérault’s Top 14 rivals was left out of joint in August after the club came to an “amicable” settlement in their salary cap case.

Many accused MHR of buying their way out of a points deduction despite questionable practices when it came to how assets were paid to their top players.

Video Spacer

Sergio Parisse opens up on on his final season chapter in rugby

Video Spacer

Sergio Parisse opens up on on his final season chapter in rugby

The club had been accused of irregularities during the 2018/19, following an expose by L’Equippe and RMC. The LNR stated that the “parties are pleased that an amicable solution has been found and that it is allows us to work in the future in a peaceful atmosphere.”

The accusations against the club revolved around the signing of South African flyhalf Johan Goosen, and a number of other top players. A report had suggested that money paid sums to Goosen and other players via a shell company in South Africa, so that the majority of their salaries would not be counted towards the salary cap.

Laporte now stands accused of giving favourable treatment to Montpellier after it was revealed that a company he owns had signed an image rights contract with Mohed Altrad’s Altrad Group in early 2017, a deal he since pulled out of.

The anti-fraud squad will now grill Laporte.

Standing unopposed, Fédération Française de Rugby President Bernard Laporte was elected the new Vice-Chairman of World Rugby in May. Laporte stood as World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont’s running partner in the elections.

ADVERTISEMENT

He coached France between 1999 and 2007 and more recently Toulon between 2011 to 2016. Laporte was elected president of the French Rugby Federation in late 2016 and in 2019 he appointed vice-president of the Six Nations tournament committee.

Get the RugbyPass App 📱

Follow the biggest matches with live scores, line-ups, news and analysis, all in the RugbyPass App.

Download Here
On Apple IOS, Android, and Tablet.
ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

N
NoLongerARuck 51 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

The Six Nations produced so many compelling games and so much of action packed moments that you can only conclude that its the best international comp out there at the moment except for a world cup. If Wales improve it will be even better especially given the strides Italy have made in recent times. The Rugby Championship is now taking a hiatus in a year it really should be building toward something better which is terrible considering the competition was so tight last year. The Nations Champs promises much but one gets the feeling that the 6 Nations teams will not be at their peak given its at the end of their long season. In terms of rugby quality and entertainment Id rather watch the 6 Nations over everything else other than a world cup right now. The North arguably offers more in terms of entertainment than the South at club level as well. The Prem, the Champs Cup, URC and Top 14 all feature plenty of scoring and different playing styles while Super Rugby seems to be the same thing game in game out. While the South tries to speed up the game artificially with new trials and law variations the North has shown you can do it with good refereeing which penalises cynical play harshly and encourages positive actions on the field. In terms of entertainment the North wins. In terms of winning? They are making strides but until they win another world cup or get a team to rank number 1 again for an extended time again they cant really say they are better than the South.

35 Go to comments
Close Panel
Close Panel

Edition & Time Zone

{{current.name}}
Set time zone automatically
{{selectedTimezoneTitle}} (auto)
Choose a different time zone
Close Panel

Editions

Close Panel

Change Time Zone

Close
ADVERTISEMENT
Copied to clipboard

Share Article close