After an opinion from the ethics committee dismissing Serge Simon’s candidacy, the president of the FFR, sentenced in December for corruption, appointed, on Friday, the name of his vice-president in charge of amateur rugby as a candidate in the post delegated president.
by Rémi Dupré
At this rate, turpitudes and maneuvers at the top of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) will inspire the screenwriters of television series. In a statement published Friday, January 6, the FFR announced the appointment of Patrick Buisson, vice-president in charge of amateur rugby, as a candidate for the post of deputy president of the federation.
Presented at a federal office, this choice comes from the president of the FFR, Bernard Laporte, sentenced on December 13, 2022 by the Paris Criminal Court to two years in prison sentence and 75,000 euros fine for corruption Passive, influence traffic, illegal taking of interests, abuse of corporate goods and concealment of abuse of corporate goods.
Despite his appeal from the judgment, Mr. Laporte, 58, was summoned to put himself “withdrawn” by the Committee of Ethics and Ethics of French Rugby (CEDRF). Caught in a vice, under pressure from the National Rugby League (LNR) and the Minister of Sports, the manager accepted, on December 22, the conditions laid by M me oudéa-Castera for Stay president of the Federation, namely to give up all the prerogatives linked to the function.
Eager not to cause anticipated general elections and to keep your post during the rugby world cup which will take place from September 8 to October 28 in France, Mr. Laporte “studied the profiles of elected officials of the majority compatible with such a function “.
the candidacy of Serge Simon Remoked
Ultimately, so he set his sights on one of his relatives, Patrick Buisson. The latter, whose mandate must end in December 2024, at the same time as that of Mr. Laporte, will submit to the vote of the 1,900 clubs of the country his candidacy for the post of deputy president of the FFR during a referendum provided between the 23 and January 26. A referendum already rejected by opponents of Mr. Laporte, gathered around the president of the Ile-de-France League, Florian Grill.
“Consensual figure”, according to a relative of the file, Patrick Buisson was the manager of the Uzès club (Gard) and the Provence Committee. During the first mandate of Mr. Laporte (2016-2020) at the head of the FFR, this ex-demo of 65-year-old melee, computer scientist by profession, overseen the digital reform at the FFR.
The name of Mr. Buisson was preferred to the more flashy and clearing of Serge Simon, a faithful lieutenant of Mr. Laporte since 2016 and first vice-president of the FFR. If he proposed for the post of deputy president, the ex-Piler of Stade Français saw, Thursday, his candidacy found by the FFR ethics committee.
Bernard Laporte ” will not officiate as a puppeteer “
The CEDRF recommended Mr. Laporte “to make an alternative choice”, explains the FFR. And this because the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) called on the release of Mr. Simon for illegal taking of interests by the Paris Criminal Court, December 13. Div> Every day new crossed, sudoku and words found. Play
This opinion of the ethics committee makes Pierre Blazy jump, Mr. Simon’s lawyer: “This story is staggering after a very clear relaxation decision. I am surprised by the committee of the committee ethics, which violates the classic principles of law, whose principle of the presumption of innocence, and which establishes the principle of the presumption of guilt. “
Sanded by the earthquake of the alleged corruption pact between Mr. Laporte and the owner of the Montpellier club, Mohed Altrad, sentenced at first instance to eighteen months in prison sentence and 50,000 euros in Fine, FFR leaders hope to find a form of serenity in the perspective of the Six Nations Tournament, which begins with a match in Italy, February 5, for the XV of France.
If his candidacy is validated at the end of the club vote, Mr. Buisson will become, on paper, the real boss of French rugby at a pivotal moment. Dedicated to stay in the shadows, like number one without power, until a judgment on appeal, will Mr. Laporte continue to draw the strings from a distance? His entourage sweeps such a scenario and ensures that the ex-selection of the XV of France “will not officiate as a puppeteer”. By January 27, his prerogatives will be delegated to the Director General, Laurent Gabbanini, as well as to members of the Federal Bureau.
