three questions surrounding the return of Bernard Laporte as director of rugby in Montpellier

The former president of the French Rugby Federation, convicted with Mohed Altrad in December 2022 for acts of corruption and influence peddling, was appointed by the latter director of rugby for the Montpellier club on Saturday.

Bernard Laporte is back in the world of rugby. A little less than a year after his conviction for acts including corruption and influence peddling, the former president of the FFR found a position as director of rugby within Montpellier Hérault Rugby (MHR), chaired by Mohed Altrad, and current top 14 red lantern.

As a reminder, on December 13, 2022, Bernard Laporte was forced to leave his chair as president of the FFR after his sentence to two years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros by the Paris criminal court, for having tied A “corruption pact” with the same Mohed Altrad, a pact linked in particular to the sponsorship of the French XV jersey.

The Franco-Syrian businessman was sentenced to eighteen months in prison and a fine of 50,000 euros for “paid Bernard Laporte in order to obtain his favors in his capacity as president of the FFR”. Here they are now reunited in Montpellier, and although their new association causes a lot of noise, it is not illegal today.

Did Bernard Laporte break the law by arriving in Montpellier?

Bernard Laporte appealed the judgment of December 13, 2022. This had the effect of suspending the decision pending the appeal judgment. “VSand appeal produces a suspensive effect which freezes the consequences of what the court decided against the two defendants. For now, the presumption of innocence must apply.”explains sports law lawyer Antoine Semeria.

Bernard Laporte is therefore legally authorized to find a position while awaiting the appeal decision, and has therefore respected the law by being appointed director of rugby within the Montpellier club, even in the presence of Mohed Altrad, who was convicted in the same deal.

Why does his appointment cause a reaction?

The return of Bernard Laporte, if it is legal, has caused a lot of reaction in view of the current legal case concerning him. The former coach of the XV of France has lost none of his outspokenness. “My return annoys the idiots. But there are idiots everywhere and those don’t interest me.” he blurted out on RMC.

The proximity between this appointment and his trial, which took place less than a year ago, may have the taste of a provocation for part of the public. “In reality, there is a gap which is linked to judicial time. Indeed, as the trial is close and the sentence is one year away, it seems to be a form of provocation. But we must remember that the facts that were judged are from 2017 and 2018. I still heard several voices who considered that it was not illegitimate, far from it, given the results of the MHR, to take this job”specifies his lawyer, Me Fanny Colin.

Within the governing bodies of French rugby, this appointment was favorably received. “For me, it’s very good. It’s very good that someone of Bernard Laporte’s skill and experience comes to the club.”assured René Bouscatel, president of the National Rugby League (LNR). “On a moral level, everyone has their own opinion but, on a legal level, that poses no problem,” said Jean-Marc Lhermet, vice-president of the FFR.

What are the consequences if his appeal is rejected?

The date of the appeal judgment has not yet been set. On this occasion, the Court of Appeal will re-judge the same facts as at first instance. “If the appeal is rejected, all of the convictions will become enforceable and each of the parties possibly convicted will have to answer for their sanctions,” specifies Antoine Semeria. In this case, the sanctions decided in December 2022 against Bernard Laporte will take effect. Does this mean that he will be completely excluded from the world of rugby for two years, as is sometimes written, and therefore leave Montpellier? No. “I am banned from being president of the Federation. But of course I will be able to stay in post (in Montpellier)”he told RMC.

Indeed, the nuance is important. The judgment of the criminal court specifies that the ban only concerns the position of president of the FFR, whereas the prosecution’s requisitions requested a ban on any activity linked to rugby. “It is a ban which is limited to exercising the activity of president of the FFR”confirms Me Fanny Colin. “While the prosecution had requested this ban on any activity linked to rugby, this is not what the court decided. It judged, with full knowledge of the facts, that it was not justified.”

Bernard Laporte will therefore be able, if his appeal is rejected, to continue to hold his position at the MHR if he is still in office at that time. He will also have the possibility of initiating a “third round” before the Court of Cassation, which will only rejudge the law and not the facts.