French rugby boss Laporte still in custody over corruption allegations
Bernard Laporte, head of the French rugby federation, was questioned in police custody for a second day on Wednesday over allegations that he and two others placed pressure on the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against rugby club Montpellier.
FrenchFrench rugby federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte was questioned for a second day in police custody Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspicions he favoured Top 14 club Montpellier, reports FRANCE 24.
Montpellier's billionaire owner Mohed Altrad and the chief organiser of the 2023 Rugby World Cup to be held in France, Claude Atcher, are also in custody, along with two senior FFR officials.
Laporte, 56, a former coach of the France national team who is also vice-chairman of the game's global body World Rugby, is suspected of pressuring the appeals committee of the French league to reduce a disciplinary punishment against Montpellier in 2017.
Laporte is standing for re-election as FFR president with the result expected on October 3rd. On Tuesday he called the timing of the legal proceedings "revolting" and claimed he was the victim of a putsch attempt.
