Bernard Laporte (in the center) during his meeting in Bordeaux.
-
Clément Carpentier / 20 Minutes
Bernard Laporte was meeting in Bordeaux on Monday evening before the FFR elections next Saturday.
A week after his custody in the "Altrad affair", the outgoing president is convinced that he has won.
His supports too.
During this public meeting, he also responded to criticism of the financial situation of the federation.
Bernard Laporte has experienced fights on the rugby fields.
But there, he admits to having been "impacted".
Because a custody and 36 hours in the premises of the Brigade for the repression of economic delinquency (BRDE) are not a simple clash between rugby players.
While waiting to know the legal consequences that the National Financial Prosecutor's Office will give to the so-called "Altrad affair" (suspicion of favoritism and conflict of interest with the billionaire Montpellier), the president of the French Rugby Federation did not have the time to breathe.
And for good reason, this week he is playing his re-election at the head of the FFR against Florian Grill.
Monday evening, he was at home near Bordeaux, him the former player of the CABBG (Bordeaux Bègles Gironde athletic club).
He held his penultimate campaign meeting there before the end of it today in Toulouse and the vote next Saturday.
With this question: what can be the possible consequences of this custody on the choices of 1,900 amateur clubs?
🏉 One week after his police custody, Bernard Laporte is back on the ground in #Bordeaux.
A few days before the vote, the one who is aiming for a second term at the head of the FFR says he is "confident" and "proud of his record".
To find Tuesday on @ 20Minutes pic.twitter.com/kwgjSdPcPx
- Clement Carpentier (@clementcarpet) September 28, 2020
"It hasn't changed my opinion at all"
As Bernard Laporte himself expressed on Facebook as soon as he was released, many of his supporters find what happened above all “bizarre”.
“We were surprised by the timing.
It bothers us a bit.
It is not innocent.
There was a very strange combination of circumstances but hey, we lived it serenely because we know the file.
We were sure of our president.
After that it's heavy!
», Admits Christian Laclau, president of the Tyrosse club and running mate of Bernard Laporte.
His colleague from Etoile Sportive Eysines,
Patrick Bidalle goes further and does not hesitate to speak of "a settling of scores between the LNR and the FFR".
“It didn't change my opinion of him at all.
I think he had a very good reaction by reacting quickly on social media.
It was quite touching his words.
I don't think there is a scheming!
», Insists the co-president of the club of the Bordeaux suburbs with 170 licensees.
He recalls in passing that he saved 13,000 euros in four years thanks to the measures of the current president on an annual budget of 50,000 euros: “It's huge for us!
"
Laporte responds to criticism of the financial situation of the FFR
At the microphone, the boss of the FFR does not return very quickly to the episode of last week.
He just has a few words of thanks for his support.
No question of making crates.
Bernard Laporte has no doubts anyway: “I am more than confident.
I'm sure we won so I can't tell you better.
We are very confident and very determined to continue everything we have already started.
I believe that in four years the French Rugby Federation has done more than in 20 years.
This is what we are told.
We are very proud of our record.
We did what we said 90%.
That's why we have everyone's confidence.
"
He lists everything he did during this first term for amateur clubs.
And even makes them a promise: "We have already made a 35 million stimulus plan."
[…] And if we have to redo one, we will do it again.
We have already anticipated.
There is not a club that will close.
”No worries, the finances will hold in mode“ whatever the cost ”as another president would say.
He adds that the FFR is 70 million euros in cash, 32 million euros in equity and that Marcoussis will be paid in two years.
The house of French rugby has been estimated at 50 million euros, according to him.
Listening to it, all clubs can therefore sleep peacefully on both ears.
Placed in custody, Bernard Laporte denounces "an attempted putsch" https://t.co/xclStxGbdI
- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) September 22, 2020
A promise for professional rugby
Even if he launches a few attacks in passing towards his opponent who is according to him "in permanent destruction and without a program" because "300 engagements, that does not mean anything, there could be 1,000 ... You have to be concrete in life" , he refrains from pronouncing his name whether it is in front of journalists or his audience in the evening.
He always prefers to put his record forward, remembering that the XV of France went from 9th place in the world to 5th and perhaps 4th in two and a half years if they won against Ireland this winter.
He still leaves a big tackle on the LNR which "everyone does not care because French rugby is not Paul Goze or Emmanuel Eschalier [the president and director of the League]" before having a word for those whom he respects “much more” in professional rugby, club presidents: “A lot of professional clubs are friends.
You think I'm going to drop Thomas Lombard or Didier Lacroix.
It was never discussed.
I was the first to want to cancel the Argentina tour in June to try to finish the championship at the time.
" He pursues :
Of course I will always come to the aid of professional rugby because it is clear that if it continues as predicted, there are going to be difficult days.
It is an integral part of the federation.
"
Among his ambitions for after the 2023 World Cup in France, Bernard Laporte is targeting 100,000 licensees.
To see if the clubs will want on Saturday that it is he who manages the FFR until 2024.
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